ZEC active all year round

would be doing when there are no elections being “prepared for or being held”. The question, which is one of the most often asked by members of the public, was answered during a ZEC and media consultation workshop which was held in Kadoma last week.
The organisation’s chief inspector, Mrs Jane Chigidji, told participants that her organisation was operational all year round, going through the electoral cycle that has eight phases, which cover the three main periods of an election – pre-election, electoral and post elections.
The organisation, which was established in 2005 and reconstituted in 2006, has offices across the country from district level and has 430 workers, although plans are afoot to recruit more, with funds permitting, to reach a full staff complement of 834.
ZEC is mandated by the country’s constitution (Section 100C) to prepare for, conduct and supervise elections for the office of President and to Parliament, and elections to the governing bodies of local authorities and referenda. It is also mandated to ensure elections and referenda are conducted efficiently, freely, fairly, transparently and in accordance with the law.
Mrs Chigidji said the first phase was the legal framework, planning and implementation, training and education, voter registration, electoral campaigning, voting operations and election day/s, verification of results and post-election time.
“The post-election time is very important as it allows us to identify needs and also gives us the opportunity for advance planning. It gives us six clear outputs which are increased participation by voters, developing shared democratic values, enhancing the integrity and accountability of the process, promoting sound electoral management practices, efficient use of natural resources and developing desirable synergies with other state institutions,” she said.
Among the processes, voter registration is always on-going at the Registry offices countrywide and so is voter education which is done by political parties, ZEC and civil society.
The electoral process begins with voter registration, followed by voter education, which takes place all year round. The next stage is delimitation of constituencies and wards by ZEC, inspection of the voters’ roll, proclamation of election dates, nomination of candidates, political campaigning, polls, counting and announcement of votes and the last stage is appeals and disposal of election residue.
The election topic always attracts debate among members of the public and the organisation’s deputy chairperson, Mrs Joyce Kazembe, took the opportunity to hit out at people who were claiming that the organisation is manned by Central Intelligence Operatives.
“We have heard it on many occasions and read in the papers that there are CIO operatives at ZEC but we never bothered to respond because we did not want to enter into a political minefield. But the truth of the matter is that all staff members at ZEC went through applications and interviews. We are a professional and ethical organisation and we are actually the best in the region. The perception is that ZEC is Zanu-PF, but do you tell me that all the 430 workers at ZEC are Zanu-PF? We certainly don’t bar people from holding political views and do you think there is anyone in Zimbabwe who does not hold a political view?” she said.
The organisation’s core values are;
l Independence: ZEC will carry out its mandate without any interference as provided for in the Constitution of Zimbabwe and other electoral laws.
l Impartially: ZEC will treat all stakeholders in a fair manner and will execute its mandate without fear or favour.
l Transparency: ZEC will maintain an open-door policy and share relevant electoral information with its stakeholders. It will build and maintain the confidence and trust of its stakeholders by undertaking its operations in an open and clear manner.
l Integrity: ZEC will adhere to the highest standard of honesty and uprightness at all times.
l Commitment: ZEC recognises the importance of the mandate bestowed on it by the Constitution of Zimbabwe and will dedicate itself whole-heartedly to its attainment.
l Professionalism: ZEC will deliver its mandate efficiently and effectively, guided by standards of national and international best practice.
l Teamwork: ZEC will create an environment that promotes and motivates a coordinated, competent, committed and interdependent staff contingent.
Part IVA 16 G of the ZEC Act states that the commission shall monitor the Zimbabwe news media during any election period to ensure that all political parties, candidates, broadcasters, print publishers and journalists observe the provisions of this part and provide a post election report on that function.
The stakeholders’ workshop was organised with a view to fostering close working relations and understanding between the organisation and the media.
However, from the deliberations, it emerged that the organisation will have to work hard on information dissemination, especially during this era of digital media.