Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo [email protected]
THE transfer of voter registration functions from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to the Civil Registry Department is expected to be completed by mid-September, paving the way for municipal by-elections scheduled for October 3.
The by-elections will be held in Ward 1 in Bulawayo, Ward 18 in Hwange and Ward 3 in Victoria Falls, increasing pressure on the two institutions to ensure the handover is completed efficiently and without disrupting voter registration services.
The transfer follows the enactment of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Act, 2026, which reassigned responsibility for voter registration from ZEC to the Registrar-General’s Office.
The constitutional amendments have triggered a phased transition involving the transfer of functions, records, systems, equipment and technical expertise between the two institutions.
Registrar-General Mr Henry Machiri said the transition process was already underway and remained on course to be completed within the stipulated timeframe.
“We are expecting this process to be complete by mid-September. The way we are doing it is starting with key issues which won’t affect any immediate jobs that need to be done, so by mid-September everything will be a complete takeover,” he said.
Mr Machiri said the Civil Registry Department was constitutionally mandated to undertake voter registration and was prepared to assume full responsibility for the function.
“Here in the southern region, we have by-elections coming and those will be met and done according to the law. We are doing these meetings while preparing the voters’ roll for the upcoming by-elections, so technically we have taken over,” he said.
Mr Machiri assured citizens that preparations for the by-elections would proceed smoothly and in full compliance with the law.
The handover process is being implemented in phases, with officials from both institutions holding engagements at national, provincial and district levels to facilitate a seamless transfer of duties and responsibilities.
ZEC chief elections officer Dr Simbarashe Tongayi said the engagements were designed to build a common understanding of the transition, clarify operational arrangements and ensure continuity in service delivery.
“These provincial and district engagements are therefore intended to bring together the relevant structures of ZEC and the Registrar-General’s Office to create a common understanding of the transition, clarify operational arrangements, identify areas requiring joint attention and establish effective working relationships between officers of the two institutions,” he said.
Dr Tongayi said the process was being guided by Government’s Whole-of-Government approach, which promotes coordination among State institutions in pursuing common national objectives.
“The transfer of voter registration provides an opportunity for ZEC and the Registrar-General’s Office to operationalise this approach by working collaboratively, notwithstanding their respective institutional mandates,” he said.
Other ministries, departments and agencies have also been incorporated into the process to provide technical and institutional support.
“For this reason, we have invited other MDAs to be part and parcel of this meeting so that they will assist us in the process. We have the ZEC Commission, Ministry of Information, Office of the Minister, Justice, so that we put our heads together,” said Dr Tongayi.
He said the transition extended beyond the movement of equipment, infrastructure and systems from one institution to another.
The transfer of institutional knowledge, technical expertise and established working relationships would be equally critical in ensuring the smooth continuation of voter registration services.
“Provincial and district leadership therefore have a critical role to play in creating an environment of cooperation, mutual respect, effective communication and teamwork,” said Dr Tongayi.
He stressed that the overriding goal was to ensure uninterrupted access to voter registration services for members of the public.
“The function is transferring, but the service must continue. We must work together as one coordinated team to ensure a smooth transition and uninterrupted voter registration services,” said Dr Tongayi.
Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet Mr Zvinechimwe Ruvinga Churu, represented by Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution secretary Mr Paul Nyoni, urged stakeholders to complete the transition expeditiously while maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and accountability.
He said any delays could undermine public confidence in the electoral process, particularly with the by-elections fast approaching.
“In this regard, I wish to underscore the critical importance of conducting this transition both expeditiously and meticulously. The speed of this transition is important. We operate in an environment where our nation is preparing for electoral processes,” said Mr Churu.
He warned that a lengthy transition process could create administrative gaps and negatively affect continuous voter registration.
“A prolonged or lethargic transition risks creating a vacuum, which could inadvertently undermine public confidence in the electoral calendar and the preparatory activities that must occur,” said Mr Churu.
He said voters should continue to access registration services without disruption throughout the transition period.
“Our citizens must not be made to wait. Voter registration must continue seamlessly as a live and ongoing process under the stewardship of the Registrar-General,” said Mr Churu.
Mr Churu also stressed the importance of maintaining a comprehensive audit trail for all voters’ roll records and infrastructure transferred from ZEC.
“Voter registration is a sensitive and foundational function of our democracy. Therefore, every single record, every file, every bit of data and every piece of physical or electronic infrastructure that is handed over must be accounted for with the highest degree of exactitude,” he said.
He urged technical teams from both institutions to work closely together in auditing, verifying and safeguarding voters’ roll data while preserving the integrity, security and confidentiality of all records.
Mr Churu said any challenges encountered during the transition should be addressed swiftly through established inter-agency mechanisms.
“We do not anticipate challenges, but where they arise, we expect them to be resolved speedily through the established inter-agency processes,” he said.
Government expects the handover process to serve as a model of effective inter-institutional cooperation while ensuring that voter registration services and preparations for the forthcoming by-elections remain unaffected.
Under the previous electoral framework, ZEC was responsible for voter registration as well as the compilation, maintenance and management of the voters’ roll as part of its broader constitutional mandate to conduct elections.
