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ZEC acting chairperson Mrs Joyce Kazembe said the commission needed the money to fund pre-referendum preparations, voter education, election materials and conducting the referendum.
Mrs Kazembe said the State should fund the country’s electoral process adding that allowing outsiders to fund the process would be tantamount to undermining “our sovereignty”.
She was speaking on the sidelines of the handover of vehicles and computers to the commission by the United Nations Development Programme in Harare yesterday.
The equipment included 11 4×4 Toyota Prado vehicles, 100 desktop computers, 125 laptops, 86 printers and eight colour printers.
“The referendum needs money as an enabling resource and we are talking of over US$88 million for the whole process,” said Mrs Kazembe.
“As much as we welcome support from various stakeholders, the funding of an election or a referendum is the responsibility of the State. We cannot let anyone fund any electoral process because we would be undermining our own sovereignty.”
Asked on the commission’s preparedness to conduct the referendum, Mrs Kazembe said if capacitated, ZEC would “stand up and fly”.
She dismissed claims by the some sections of the media that the commission was non-partisan.
“No one has proven that and nobody has done a staff audit. That is a wrong perception. Our people are recruited in a transparent manner and they do apply just like anyone else.
“Moreover, that is why the ZEC staff was never an issue for the (GPA) negotiators,” she said.
Turning to the donation, Mrs Kazembe said it would go a long way in enhancing the capacity of the commission in electoral management.
“We have never received any vehicle since we were sworn in March last year. Commissioners will now be able to be on the ground, seeing the situation for themselves,” she said.
Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa, who was the guest of honour, described the donation as “refreshing”.
He said the partnership came at a time economic sanctions were negatively impacting on the national purse.
“This is a manifestation of the sincere relations that are now taking root between our country and the co-operating partners.
“This kind gesture is welcome because sanctions are making it difficult for key institutions like ZEC to meet key demands,” he said.
Elections, Minister Chinamasa said, constitute the bedrock of major democracies in the world hence the need for ZEC to be well resourced.
Online Reporter