Bad weather affects BVR programme

Blessings Chidakwa Mashonaland West Correspondent
Cloudy and rainy weather conditions are affecting the fourth phase of the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) process, as the registration kits are mostly powered by solar energy.

Most Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) registration centres in Mashonaland West Province have been experiencing some delays due to cloud cover. In an interview yesterday, acting Mashonaland West Provincial elections officer Mr Austin Ndlovu confirmed the delays.

“The fourth phase of the BVR process started smoothly last week. However, we are having challenges with the cloud cover in terms of functionality of our kits as they rely mostly on solar energy.” Mr Ndlovu said to circumvent the challenge, ZEC officials who were close to areas connected to electricity were charging the kits overnight.

“Supervisors are now actually taking the kits under their jurisdiction to areas where there is electricity for overnight charging,” he said. Mr Ndlovu said the province was close to surpassing the projected provincial BVR target.

“At present we have registered about 48,6 percent voters against a possible target of at least 50 percent. As of today (yesterday), we have registered 405 931 people,” he said.

Mr Ndlovu said they were still registering “aliens” following the High Court ruling restoring their right to vote in general elections. The Constitution allows those born in Zimbabwe with identity cards endorsed “alien” to register to vote if they provide proof that either of their parents was born in Southern Africa.

Mr Ndlovu said ZEC was still maintaining its position that only those with long birth certificates would be allowed to register. Such people are expected to produce the ID marked “alien”, a long birth certificate and proof of residence.

It has since emerged that the majority of people with “alien” IDs do not have long birth certificates. The long birth certificate has details, which validate the citizenship status of the applicant. Mr Ndlovu encouraged the affected people to approach the Registrar’s Office and secure proper documentation.