Prospective Members of Parliament who want to stand as candidates will now have to seek approval from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission according to the new electoral amendments that are outlined in Statutory Instrument 117 of 2017.
The Electoral Act come into effect through the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) Act (Chapter 10:20) published in a recent Government Gazette. Section 25 (a) (ii) of the Electoral Act reads:
Where an applicant seeks transfer of registration because he or she intends to be a candidate for election as a Member of Parliament in a constituency in which he or she is not a resident, the applicant shall send the appropriate prescribed form to the Commission for its approval.
Voters who want to cast their ballots in constituencies in which they do not reside shall also have to lodge a claim form with ZEC. In part,SI 117 of 2017, reads:
Any person who wishes to be registered as a voter on the voters roll of any constituency shall complete the appropriate prescribed claim form and submit it to a voter registration officer at the appropriate registration office. Provided that a claimant — (i) may request the assistance of a voter registration officer at the appropriate registration office to complete the appropriate prescribed claim form, and the officer shall comply with that request.
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