Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo
Bulawayo Bureau
THE transfer of voter registration functions from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to the Civil Registry Department is expected to be completed by mid-September, ahead of municipal by-elections set for October 3.
The by-elections will be held in Ward 1 in Bulawayo, Ward 18 in Hwange and Ward 3 in Victoria Falls, placing pressure on the two institutions to complete the handover without disrupting voter registration services.
The transfer follows the enactment of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Act, 2026, which shifted responsibility for voter registration from ZEC to the Registrar-General’s Office.
The constitutional changes have resulted in a phased transition of functions, records, systems, equipment and technical expertise between the two institutions.
Registrar-General Mr Henry Machiri said the transition was already underway and would 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 conduct voter registration and was ready to assume full responsibility.
“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 the public that preparations for the by-elections would proceed without constitutional or legal complications.
The handover-takeover process is being conducted in phases, with officials from both institutions engaging at national, provincial and district levels to ensure a smooth transfer of responsibilities.
ZEC chief elections officer Dr Simbarashe Tongayi said the engagements were aimed at establishing a common understanding of the transition, clarifying operational arrangements and ensuring continuity of services.
“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 the Whole-of-Government approach, which encourages State institutions to coordinate their efforts towards 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.”
