Japan donated $1 million to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). The signing ceremony was attended by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) country representative Mr Bishow Parajuli, Japan ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Toshiyuki Iwado and Zec deputy chairperson Mr Emmanuel Magade at a brief ceremony held in the capital.
Iwado said that Japan decided to join the UNDP ‘s efforts in supporting fair and transparent elections in 2018. Said Iwado:
The elections provide all Zimbabweans with the opportunity to exercise their sovereign right to choose their representatives for the years to come. In other words, the elections give all Zimbabweans the chance to decide their future for the next five year term. Against this backdrop, I am pleased that the Government of Japan has decided to join other donors to support the UNDP’s project for supporting fair and transparent elections in an effort to promote the work of Zec.
Magade said the money would be used to fund activities related to biometric voter registration which ZEC is currently carrying out.
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