Online Reporter
Sikhumbuzo Moyo [email protected]
THE transfer of voter registration and voters’ roll management functions from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to the Civil Registry Department is expected to be completed by mid-September, ahead of three municipal by-elections scheduled for October 3.
The by-elections will be held in Ward 1 in Bulawayo, Ward 18 in Hwange and Ward 3 in Victoria Falls.
Speaking on the sidelines of a one-day handover-takeover workshop held at a Bulawayo hotel yesterday, Registrar-General Mr Henry Machiri said there was no room for delays in completing the transition.
“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,” said Mr Machiri.
He said the Civil Registry Department was now constitutionally mandated to conduct voter registration and was ready to assume the 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 nation that there would be no constitutional or legal hiccups in preparations for the upcoming by-elections.
He said the handover-takeover was being conducted in phases to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities from ZEC to the Civil Registry Department.
The transfer follows constitutional and legislative reforms that assigned responsibility for voter registration and the management of the voters’ roll to the Civil Registry Department.
The workshop brought together officials from the two institutions to ensure that the transition is conducted smoothly and that the Civil Registry Department is adequately prepared to assume its new responsibilities.
The process is expected to culminate in the Civil Registry Department taking full responsibility for voter registration and voters’ roll management.
