Chronicle Editor
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu
SCORES of people continue to flock to voter registration centres in Matabeleland South province in response to Government’s call for all citizens to participate in the forthcoming harmonised elections sometime this year.
The Zanu-PF party leadership in the province has chipped in with transportation to assist potential voters who have challenges moving to registration centres.
The Department of Civil Registry is conducting a three-month long national registration blitz that is meant to enable Zimbabweans across the country to acquire national identity documents and register to vote.
The exercise will be conducted countrywide up to July 31 and the department has since published in mainstream media the places and days where the mobile teams are visiting.
The mobile teams will work from 7am to 5pm during working days while those at the offices will work from 7am to 7pm. On weekend and public holidays, the documents will be issued between 7am and 4pm. The exercise is meant to provide citizens yet to register to vote an opportunity to obtain national identity documents so they can register.
The exercise is targeting mainly those who recently attained 18 years who are keen to register as voters as well as those who might have failed to register after losing identity documents.
In Gwanda residents continue to turn up in numbers at registration centres to register to vote and check for their names. Those who do not have necessary documentation have gone on to acquire them first before registering to vote.
Mphathisi Nyathi (33) from Mawane area in Gwanda said it was his first time to register to vote as he has been living in South Africa for about 10 years. He managed to register at a registration centre in Gwanda Town.
“I will be participating in the elections for the first time in my life. I have stayed in South Africa for 10 years but I couldn’t vote there because I’m not a South African citizen. I’m glad that I will be casting my vote for the first this year,” he said.
Mr Freeman Nyathi (18) also from Mawane area was able to register to vote for the first time. He said when he learnt that there will be free transport to ferry people to register he decided to take the opportunity.
Ms Evelina Gumbo (67) from Sifanjani Village said she travelled to Gwanda Town to ensure that she was registered. She said this was a good opportunity for her to take part in the development of the nation.
Ms Esther Ndlovu (72) also from Sifanjani Village said she has managed to confirm her registration in order to participate in the upcoming elections.
“It’s important for me to participate in the upcoming elections as a citizen of the country. I want to contribute towards developing my country. When I heard that there was transport available to take us for registration I immediately took advantage of the opportunity,” she said.
“This transportation is for us to register to vote so that we can select any leader of our choice and not to particularly vote for a particular candidate.”
Gwanda North Constituency Zanu-PF party representative Cde Lungisani Ncube said following instruction from the party leadership he has been transporting villagers on their free will to registration centres.
“The purpose of this activity is to ensure that as many people get registered to vote in their upcoming elections as that is good for development of the nation,” he said.
“Transporting members of the public has actually brought relief to the people as some have to travel long distances to get to the registration centres. As members of the Zanu-PF party it’s our duty to highlight to people the significant development that has been brought by Government under the Second Republic.”
Voter registration for those intending to vote during this year’s harmonised elections will close two days after the proclamation of the poll date by President Mnangagwa in line with the country’s electoral laws. Zimbabwe is set for councils, house of assembly and presidential elections this year.
ZEC has since tabled a $130 billion budget to conduct the polls and Treasury is now expected to start disbursing the funds. -@DubeMatutu
Online Reporter