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She announced the election date on Friday when she met representatives of people living with disabilities.
“Elections of senators living with disabilities will not be done on July 31 2013 but on August 2, 2013 if there is no run-off. Elections for the two senators to represent persons living with disabilities will be conducted within an electoral college that shall be constituted in a fashion provided for in the Electoral Act,” she said.
These would not be done on a party list and on a proportional representative system as happens with all other senators.
One of the two senators should be a woman. She said people living with disabilities would, however, be expected to vote in the harmonised elections to be held on July 31.
ZEC commissioner Professor Geoff Feltoe said people living with disabilities could be assisted to vote by persons of their choice and in the event they fail to bring a friend or relative, two electoral officials and a policeman on duty would be asked to assist.
He said for the visually impaired the presiding officer would have to be present when the person of choice marks the ballot paper.
Ms Lilian Gwanyanya a member of the National Council of Disabled Persons of Zimbabwe said the two senatorial seats were not enough as there was need to elect the senators on a provincial basis.
She also said it was unfair that people living with disabilities were not represented in the National Assembly.
Advisor to the President on disability issues Rtd Brigadier General Felix Muchemwa said while there were a number of issues that the people living with disabilities would want to raise, the body would comply with the law.
According to the requirements, people constituting the electoral college should be living with disabilities and half of the delegates must be women.
The people must be registered voters while four of the nominees should be chosen by the national disability board.
“As soon as possible, after the end of balloting for candidates under this part, the returning officer or officers that conducted the ballot shall inform the commission in writing, of the names of the candidates who would have been duly elected,” said ZEC deputy chair Mrs Joyce Kazembe.
On the same date and at different venues provincial assemblies of chiefs would meet to elect two senatorial representatives.
Online Reporter