Editorial Comment: Let’s all go out and register to vote

ZIMBABWEANS who failed to register as voters during the first round of the mobile registration exercise which started on 29 April and ended on 19 May, have been afforded another opportunity to register as voters. Another 30-day national mobile voter registration and inspection of the voters roll started yesterday.

According to Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Chief Elections Officer Mr Lovemore Sekeramayi nearly 2 000 centres have been established countrywide to register voters and those that have already registered can also inspect the voters’ roll at the same centres.

The 30-day voter registration exercise is provided for in the new Constitution and will pave way for harmonised elections expected by 31 July. Treasury has since released $11,6 million to fund the exercise meant to cater for thousands of eligible voters that failed to register during the first round. During the first round, the few mobile teams that were deployed countrywide were overwhelmed by the many people that turned out to register hence many of them failed to register. Inadequate funding during the first round forced the Registrar General of Voters’ Office to reduce the number of mobile teams.

Now that Treasury has already released $11,6 million out of the $25 million mobilised for the second phase of voter registration, the Registrar General of Voters Office must ensure adequate teams are deployed to conduct the exercise. It is our belief that ZEC has since reviewed the first phase of the voter registration and identified the shortcomings and challenges encountered with a view to improving its efficiency during this second phase.

A number of eligible voters were turned away at many registration centres throughout the country because they did not have proof of residence yet ZEC had announced that those that could not produce documents as proof of residence could fill in affidavit forms that were supposed to be available at the registration centres.

We do not want to see a repeat of the same mistake this time around. We want to remind Zimbabweans that it is their right to participate in elections but they can only enjoy this right if they register as voters. The gallant sons and daughters who sacrificed their lives to liberate this country were fighting for the right to vote.

The different political parties complained during the first round that the time for voter registration was too short and we want to believe the same political parties have played their part by encouraging their supporters to register as voters now that registration has been opened for another 30 days. According to ZEC more than 200 000 first time voters registered during the first round, a figure we are convinced is far too low. ZEC on its part is not just registering people but is also conducting voter education. Voter education teams have already been deployed in both urban and rural areas to educate members of the public on the importance of participating in national elections and   this   is   as   it   should    be. It   is   a   right   of   every   eligible   voter   to   decide   who   should   represent   him or   her   in   Parliament   or   in council.

Those that decide not to participate in the elections should not cry foul when the wrong people are voted into office to make decisions on their behalf. We want to once again implore eligible voters to take advantage of this second phase to register as voters so that they participate in the forthcoming national elections.