Independent elections watchdog, Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (Zesn), in its weekly report on the ongoing biometric voter registration (BVR) exercise, said that Zanu-PF is intimidating potential voters by misinforming them about the BVR and its purpose.
Said Zesn:
Potential registrants are being informed that having registered using the system, it is possible to know who they will vote for in the 2018 elections. These cases were reported in Mudzi North Ward 1, Murewa North Ward 4 and Muzarabani Ward 3, among other areas.
In addition, Zesn has received reports of registrants being forced to submit their names and details such as serial numbers of voter registration slips to ward chairpersons and other community leaders as a way of intimidating them into believing that their voting choices will be traceable in the 2018 election.
Zesn, therefore, urges the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to conduct comprehensive voter education and information dissemination to ensure that citizens are well informed about the BVR process to demystify some of these shenanigans by politicians.”
But Zanu PF youth league secretary Kudzanai Chipanga yesterday dismissed the allegations and urged those that have been intimidated to report to the police.
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