Daily News
By Wendy Muperi
7 July 2013
HARARE – With two days left before the curtain comes down on the second voter registration exercise, frustration continues to characterise the process as centres continue to serve a few people per day.
“I got here around 5am and I was number 20,†one elated first-time voter told the crew after staying at the office for five hours before being served.
Hundreds of people are failing to make it into the vital book every day.
State media recently said nearly half-a-million first- time voters have managed to register — but due to the limited time the officials have — first-time voters are being deprived of the 30 days of voters’ roll inspection, as required under the law.
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s (Zec) Rita Makarau, in an interview with State media, said the organisation — responding to complaints — has deployed more teams to speed up the process.
Six more teams were now on the ground in Harare while between one and two were added in some needy rural communities.
Nevertheless, the number of people who will not cast their vote remains high as thousands are being turned away every day for lack of the required paper work — particularly the issue of citizenship.
Some commentators and political parties allege the delays and inefficiency are meant to dishearten voters especially in MDC strongholds.
Education minister David Coltart said massive-scale rigging will win Zanu PF victory in the impending general election only if Zimbabweans succumb to apathy.
“However, that will only work if we are apathetic. If we all turn out and vote — every last woman and man who want to change our beloved nation for the better — rigging becomes more difficult. It is easier to rig an election when few people turn out and becomes progressively harder the more who vote,†said Coltart in a Facebook post on Friday.
“But one cannot vote unless one is registered — every person still has that opportunity until July 9. So if you are not registered please do so over the next 5 days. We cannot afford to allow Zanu PF to steal the future of our children again,†he added.
Zimbabwe’s second round of voter registration commenced on June 19 and is expected to end on Tuesday July 9, this brings the total days devoted to the process to 50.