Emergency Food Security and Vulnerable Livelihoods Officer (Harare)

Emergency Food Security and Vulnerable Livelihoods Assistants (Harare)

Driver (Harare)

Data Capturer (Harare)

Support Engineer (Harare)

Accounts Clerk (Harare)

Human Resources Administrator

Human Resources Business Partner - CBZ Bank (Harare)

Managed Care Officer (Bulawayo)

Drivers (Harare)

Security Guards (Harare)

Graduate Trainee: Monitoring and Evaluation (Harare)

Graduate Trainee: Public Affairs, Media and Marketing (Harare)

Graduate Trainee:  Agriculture (Harare)

Embroidery Machine Operator (Harare)

Insurance Consultant

Procurement Officer (Harare)

Electronics Technician (Harare)

Transport Manager (Bulawayo)

Trainee Sales Executive (Harare)

Technical Director (Harare)

Financial Management and Operations Director (Harare)

Data Analyst (Harare)

Field Security Associate (Harare)

Concrete Plant Technician

Technician/Senior Technician

Laboratory Assistant

Project Officer

Drivers x4

Grants and Compliance Manager (Harare)

Accountants x2 (Harare)

Harare East MP, Tendai Biti (CCC), has described the voters’ roll availed by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) as a “crime scene” demanding an urgent national audit by all political parties.
Biti said the current voters’ roll cannot be used to conduct a credible election.
He was commenting on a tweet by Team Pachedu, who had alleged that there are more than 10 000 national identity numbers (IDs) on the 2023 voters’ roll that were previously used by completely different people during the 2002-2008 elections. <a href="https://twitter.com/BitiTendai/status/1683481144547844096?s=20">Said Biti</a>:
<blockquote>
The current voters’ roll is not fit for a burial society election. It is a crime scene.
There must be an urgent national audit of this roll signed off by all political parties.
Zimbabwe cannot be led into an occult travesty masquerading as an election. 23 August must be a real election.
</blockquote>
Some CCC candidates recently claimed that the voters’ roll is not searchable nor analysable saying it is in small font and in PDF format which does not allow a comprehensive search.
However, ZEC chief elections officer Utloile Silaigwana said that the voters’ roll met the provision of the Electoral Act and was searchable and analysable.
He said the Electoral Act “permits the commission to format the voters’ roll to prevent it from being altered or tampered with”.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Current Voters' Roll A "Crime Scene", Says Biti

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has finally released copies of the voters’ roll to presidential candidates, just over a month before the nation goes to the polls on 23 August.
However, ZEC is yet to release the voters’ roll to candidates set to contest in parliamentary and council elections.
Posting on Twitter on Monday, CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere confirmed party presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa received his copy. She wrote:
<blockquote>
After months of demanding, litigating, and exerting political pressure, the [CCC] has finally obtained a copy of the voters’ roll from [ZEC].
We’re yet to receive constituency and ward-based voters’ rolls as stipulated by law. We continue to demand these from [ZEC].
Our elections directorate and technical experts are now analyzing the roll in light of the massive anomalies that came to light during the inspection.
</blockquote>
The election adviser of independent presidential candidate Saviour Kasukuwere, Jaqueline Sande also confirmed receipt of his copy. She tweeted:
<blockquote>
I do confirm that an electronic voter’s roll was handed over to me on behalf of President Saviour Kasukuwere by [ZEC].
</blockquote>
In 2022, a data analysis group, Team Pachedu claimed the voters’ roll had several anomalies.
It said ZEC had illegally moved 170 000 voters from their constituencies and wards and created additional polling stations under unclear circumstances as well as registrants with similar and wrong addresses.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZEC Delivers Voters' Roll To Presidential Election Candidates

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has distanced itself from a post circulating on social media platforms on the number of registered voters.
The post claims that more than 70% of registered voters for the 23 August 2023 general elections are in rural areas.
The post, which features a ZEC logo, claims that the figure was based on data from the commission’s website.
According to the post, 3 801 967 people are registered in rural areas while only 1 976 381 people are in urban areas.
In a statement posted on Twitter, ZEC urged members of the public to disregard the post, saying it did not originate from the electoral management body. <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200013625/zec-disowns-fake-post-on-voter-statistics">It said</a>:
<blockquote>
This post did not emanate from the ZEC office and the commission distances itself from such.
Members of the public are discouraged from abusing the ZEC logo for personal gain.
We urge the public to be wary of such posts and to only rely on information from the ZEC website or from our official social media platforms.
We are committed to ensuring that the upcoming elections are free, fair, and credible.
We urge all eligible voters to register to vote and participate in the elections.
</blockquote>
Critics have expressed doubt over the credibility of the upcoming elections as ZEC has hitherto failed to avail the voters’ roll to candidates for scrutiny.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZEC Disowns Social Media Post On Voter Statistics

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) says it is cleaning the voters’ roll of mistakes noted during the inspection period and getting it ready for use in the harmonised elections set for 23 August 2023.
Speaking in an interview with <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/election-nomination-fees-gazetted/">State media</a>, ZEC chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana said the voters’ roll will only be availed to candidates who successfully file their papers with the Nomination Court that sits on 21 June. Said Silaigwana:
<blockquote>
The voters’ roll might be ready [on Sunday, 18 June], that is when we will have the total number of people who registered to vote in the coming elections.
For now, we are just going through the final cleaning of the roll, removing such cases as multiple registrations and other issues that were picked up during the voters’ roll inspection phase.
This is all to ensure that come Wednesday we fulfill our mandate of giving the voters’ roll to everyone that successfully submits their papers to the nomination courts.
</blockquote>
Voter registration remains open but the voters’ roll that will be used in the 23 August elections closed two days after the proclamation of elections by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Voters' Roll Will Only Be Availed To Election Candidates - ZEC

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has started to compile the final voters’ roll following the conclusion of the inspection exercise that ran from May 27 to June 1.
ZEC deputy chairperson Ambassador Rodney Kiwa told The Sunday Mail that the commission is currently cleaning the voters’ roll by correcting anomalies that were picked up during the inspection. Kiwa is cited as saying:
<blockquote>
 
The commission would like to assure members of the public that it will rectify any anomalies that were observed during the voters’ roll inspection.
This will be done during the compilation of the final voters’ roll that shall be provided for free to prospective candidates after June 21, 2023, the day that has been fixed for nomination courts.
</blockquote>
More than 1.17 million people physically presented themselves at over 11,000 centres to inspect the voters’ roll during the six-day nationwide exercise, while others checked their registration details virtually. Many people found their names missing from the voters’ roll upon verifying at ZEC centres or via mobile phone platforms, and others discovered that their names were moved from the polling stations in which they registered. Some have viewed these glitches as part of structural vote rigging.
Kiwa said after the Nomination Court sitting, ZEC will publish the final list of all contesting candidates on June 30, with the final figure of registered voters to be revealed after the cleaning process. Amb. Kiwa stated that the voters’ roll inspection aimed to enable verification of details and correct anomalies.
Opposition parties and civil society organisations accuse the ZEC of manipulating the voters’ roll to benefit the ruling party, ZANU PF.
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

ZEC Compiles Final Voters' Roll Post-inspection Exercise: Deputy Chair

Team Pachedu, a group of Zimbabwean researchers, has urged the opposition in Zimbabwe to pressure the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to release the voters’ roll, to avoid “fraud of 2013.”
Reports of discrepancies in the number of registered voters and the actual population in certain areas, as well as the inclusion of deceased individuals on the voters’ roll, led to allegations of a flawed voters’ roll in the 2013 elections in Zimbabwe. Opposition parties and civil society organizations accused the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of manipulating the voters’ roll to benefit the ruling party, ZANU-PF. The controversy surrounding the voters’ roll led to calls for transparency and electoral reforms, which remained a major issue in subsequent elections to ensure free and fair elections in Zimbabwe.
 Team Pachedu believes that if the opposition agrees to participate in the polls with a flawed voters’ roll, there is a risk of a repeat of the 2013 situation. In a Twitter post seen by Pindula News, Team Pachedu said:
<blockquote>
There can never be a fair election without an electronic voters roll. Opposition parties should not run the risk of endorsing an already unpopular Zanupf in August 2023. There has to be pressure on ZEC to release the roll. The fraud of 2013 should never be repeated.
</blockquote>
During a recent voters’ roll inspection process, many people found their names missing from the voters’ roll upon verifying at ZEC centres or via mobile phone platforms, and others discovered that their names were moved from the polling stations in which they registered. Some have viewed these glitches as part of structural vote rigging.
ZEC’s chief elections officer of ZEC, Utloile Silaigwana, last week announced that the <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2023/06/04/zec-zimbabwe-voters-roll-available-to-candidates-by-end-june/">voters’ roll for the upcoming general elections will be available to election candidates at the end of June.</a> Silaigwana assured the public that any anomalies observed during the voters’ roll inspection exercise will be rectified during the final compilation of the voters’ roll.
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

Opposition Should Pressure ZEC To Release Voters' Roll To Prevent 2013 Fraud - Team Pachedu

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) says claims that it has deliberately removed the names of opposition members from the voters’ roll are “mischievous and preposterous”.
In an interview with <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/zec-dismisses-oppositions-frivolous-claims/">The Herald</a> on Wednesday, ZEC vice chairperson Rodney Kiwa said that cannot happen as the electoral body is not affiliated with any political party. He said:
<blockquote>
The rationale for the voters’ roll inspection is to ensure every registrant is accurately captured on the roll and all corrections made.
To suggest that members of a particular political party are targeted for exclusion is not only mischievous and preposterous as we are fully independent of any political party influence and in fact, when registering people, we do not seek their political alignment, it would be illegal and unethical.
</blockquote>
Voters across the country including sitting members of Parliament from the opposition say their names are missing from the voters’ roll.
Some of the registered voters whose names are missing from the voters’ roll voted in the March 2022 by-elections.
Kiwa said there are more people checking the voters’ roll using the ZEC USSD platform *265# than those checking the physical copies in person. He said:
<blockquote>
We are compiling figures from all the inspection centres. My take so far is that registrants were/are using our USSD platform *265# more than they are physically turning up to check.
But let the figures speak for themselves. I should be able to speak authoritatively end of the day Friday.
</blockquote>
ZEC extended the voters’ roll inspection exercise to 01 June 2023. The voters’ roll inspection exercise which commenced on Saturday, was supposed to end on 31 May.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Voters' Roll: ZEC Says Not Targetting Opposition Members For Removal

Some registered voters including opposition legislators say their names are missing from the voters’ roll.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) started a voters’ roll inspection exercise on Saturday and since then, some registered voters who checked their documents to ensure that their details are in order were shocked to find their names missing.
The voters’ roll inspection ends on 31 May but ZEC Chief Elections Officer <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2023/05/27/voters-roll-inspection-may-be-delayed-at-some-centres-zec/">Utloile Silaigwana on Saturday said ZEC may consider allowing voters in areas where inspection centres</a> were anticipated to start operating late to inspect the voters’ roll on 01 June.
Bulawayo Central proportional representation Member of Parliament Jasmine Toffa (CCC) told <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200012262/names-vanish-from-voters-roll">NewsDay</a> that her name is missing on the voters’ roll. She said:
<blockquote>
Two weeks ago, I dialled *265# to check my name and it reflected. I took a screenshot and kept it.
Yesterday I decided to check again and I saw that my name was no longer there. I went to do a physical check and my name was not there.
I found a number of people queuing there who had the same challenges. ZEC officials said they are facing technical difficulties, and I don’t understand how something that is on the computer does not print out on a hard copy.
</blockquote>
Another Bulawayo proportional representation MP Nicola Watson said her name was missing. She said:
<blockquote>
Bulawayo councillor Edwin Ndlovu’s name was also missing. This is unacceptable as the magnitude of error is extremely high. Most people don’t even know where to check their names.
</blockquote>
Prominent Bulawayo-based journalist Zenzele Ndebele also said he could not locate his name in the voters’ roll. He tweeted:
<blockquote>
I have checked my name and can confirm that it is not on the voters’ roll. And the four guys who came when I was there were also not on the voters’ roll.
</blockquote>
Contacted for comment by NewsDay, ZEC chief elections Officer Utoile Silaigwana said:
<blockquote>
What I want you to understand is that the purpose of the inspection of the voters’ roll is to check if ever there are mistakes in terms of names etc, then if there is a query then that query should be registered so that it can be corrected.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, voter registration is ongoing at the usual centres across the country. The voters’ roll will be closed for registration two days after President Emmerson Mnangagwa has proclaimed the election date.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Voters Worried As Names Vanish From Voters' Roll

Welshman Ncube, the vice president of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change, has reported that his name is missing from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s voters’ roll.
In a Twitter post seen by Pindula News, Ncube said he said visited multiple inspection centers within his ward and found that his name did not appear on any of them. Hillside Primary School referred him to Windsor Park and the Provincial office for further checks. He posted:
<blockquote>
This morning I went to the other inspection centres within ward 4 in the neighbourhood of my residence to check if my name had been moved to those polling stations. My name didn’t appear at any of them. Hillside Primary School referred me to Windsor Park, the Provincial office.
</blockquote>
The voters’ roll inspection exercise took off on Saturday allowing the electorate to check if their names were in the roll ahead of this year’s harmonised elections scheduled for August.
Prospective voters need to complete and submit a voter registration form with the necessary documentation to the ZEC. The documentation usually required may include a national ID or passport, proof of residence and proof of citizenship. Once the application is processed and approved, their name will be added to the voters’ roll, and they will be eligible to vote in the upcoming elections. 
Government critics have alleged that ZEC plans to use the flawed voters’ roll to manipulate election results in favour of the ruling party, ZANU PF. The voters’ roll has been a contentious issue in Zimbabwean politics, with concerns raised about its accuracy, completeness, and transparency.
Some opposition parties and civil society groups have accused the ZEC of deliberately excluding eligible voters from the roll while allowing ineligible voters to register or keeping dead people known as “ghost voters” in the roll. The flawed voters’ roll has raised fears of possible election rigging, particularly since elections in Zimbabwe have been marred by allegations of irregularities and manipulation in the past.
The ZEC has denied these allegations and has insisted that the voters’ roll is still being processed, therefore some details may be missing. 
<h2><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Welshman Ncube: My Name Is Missing From The ZEC's Voters' Roll

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has advised prospective voters that some voters’ roll inspection centres may start operating much later than the anticipated time this Saturday.
In a statement issued this Saturday, ZEC Chief Elections Officer Utloile Silaigwana said the delays are a result of “logistical and other unforeseen challenges”.
He said ZEC may consider allowing voters in affected areas to inspect the voters’ roll on 01 June. Said Silaigwana:
<blockquote>
Owing to logistical and other unforeseen challenges, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission would like to inform members of the public that some voters’ roll inspection centres may start operating much later than the anticipated time on 27 May 2023.
The Commission may consider extending this exercise scheduled to end on 31 May 2023 by a day in affected areas.
</blockquote>
Speaking to <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200012012/no-voter-registration-at-inspection-centres-zec">NewsDay</a> on Wednesday, Silaigwana said voter registration is still ongoing at the usual centres. He said:
<blockquote>
Voter registration has not yet been closed. However, members of the public will not be able to register as voters at the polling stations.
They will be just inspecting the roll. Registration will be at the usual. There is no registration at all at the inspection centres.
We are extending our work. We are doing it for the benefit of the public, as an administrative matter.
We are doing like what we do with the voter registration blitz to bring the centres to the people.
It’s an administrative decision that we have taken to bring the centres to the people, otherwise, individuals can inspect the roll anytime, according to the law.
</blockquote>
Silaigwana said the voters’ roll will be closed for registration two days after President Emmerson Mnangagwa has proclaimed the election date.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Voters' Roll Inspection May Be Delayed At Some Centres - ZEC

The Election Resource Centre (ERC) has accused the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of violating the Constitution by failing to publish the voters’ roll ostensibly to protect voters’ data in accordance with the Data Protection Act.
This comes after High Court judge Justice Never Katiyo rejected an application by Harare North MP, Allan Markham, who sought the court to compel ZEC to release the voters’ roll.
He said the release of the electronic voters’ roll would expose the document to manipulation.
But in a statement issued on Wednesday, ERC said ZEC’s reasons for withholding the Voters’ Roll were unconstitutional and will affect the credibility of the elections. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
The ERC notes the statement made by the ZEC Chairperson Honourable Chigumba in Parliament on 5 April 2023.
The Chairperson is quoted stating that the Electoral Commission is unable to publish the voters’ roll as it has the responsibility to protect the data of voters in accordance with the Data Protection Act.
While the Data Protection Act is there to provide for data protection with due regard to the Declaration of Rights under the Constitution, the act also addresses the protection of data in terms of public and national interest.
Section 11 (5) (h) of the Data Protection Act states that the data controller (ZEC in this instance) shall process sensitive data if, “the processing of data is authorised by a law or any regulation for any other reason constituting substantial public interest.”
Section 21 (3) of the Electoral Act legally authorises the Commission to within a reasonable period of time provide any person who requests it, and who pays the prescribed fee a copy of any voters’ roll either in printed or in electronic form as the person may request.
Therefore, ZEC is legally obligated by the Electoral Act read in line with the Data Protection Act to avail the voters’ roll data, especially as it constitutes substantial public interest as the roll is necessary for electoral participation and the realisation of political rights as envisaged by the Constitution.
The continued denial of the voters’ roll especially, to persons with a legitimate interest in the voters’ roll and free and fair elections, such as political parties, candidates and CSOs under the guise of data protection is unlawful and detrimental to the credibility of the 2023 Harmonised Elections.
The ERC repeats its calls, that the voters’ roll should be made public, as the credibility and validity of the delimitation process and the 2023 Harmonised Elections are dependent on it.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ERC Criticises ZEC For Refusing To Release Voters' Roll

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Priscilla_Chigumba">Priscilla Chigumba</a> on Wednesday told Parliament that the electoral body has registered nearly six million voters for this year’s general elections.
Chigumba appeared before the joint Thematic Committee on Peace and Security and the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice yesterday.
She said ZEC was still conducting the biometric voter registration exercise, which will end two days after the proclamation of the election date. <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200009794/6-million-on-voters-roll-zec">NewsDay</a> quoted Chigumba as saying:
<blockquote>
Voter registration will continue in all the districts until two days after the proclamation. To date, nearly six million voters have been registered.
The commission will only announce the number of voters who will be eligible to vote once the process is done.
The commission is making strides to ensure that elections will be conducted peacefully in an environment that ensures that the will of the electorate is realised.
The commission is satisfied that its preparations are well on course and is ready to discharge its mandate in accordance with the law.
</blockquote>
On allegations of leaking voters’ phone numbers to ZANU PF, Chigumba said, “We have to protect the data of our voters in accordance with the Data Protection Act.
Voters in various districts are receiving messages praising the government’s work and signed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The texts were personalised to include the name of the recipients’ district — and signed “President ED Mnangagwa”.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZEC Has Registered Nearly Six Million Voters - Chigumba

Large numbers of aspiring voters visited some Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) mobile biometric voter registration centres across the country on Sunday ahead of the 2023 general elections, reported <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200008743/aspiring-voters-flood-zec-centres">NewsDay</a>.
ZEC started its final voter registration blitz on Sunday, with the programme set to end on 21 March 2023.
Project Vote 263 chairperson Alan Chipoyi said their coordinators noted delays by ZEC officials in some places. Said Chipoyi:
<blockquote>
People are coming out in numbers to register to vote in Budiriro for instance, but it appears there are delays at the ZEC offices.
We have coordinators across the countries reporting similar problems where registrants are waiting at the ZEC mobile centres for a while before they get service.
But ZEC educating officers are doing a sterling job of providing the necessary information to the public on this blitz. 
However, it does not make sense if the person then goes to the registration centre and fails to register.
If the issues at ZEC are not addressed with urgency, a significant number of youth will be deprived of an opportunity to register to vote
</blockquote>
Speaking to NewsDay, Zimbabwe Election Advocacy Trust executive director Ignatius Sadziwa, said:
<blockquote>
This can be attributed to the starting day being a Sunday when most people are attending church. We expect increased numbers as the week progresses.
However, we don’t see a lot of awareness being raised around the issue. ZEC is supposed to increase its advertising material so that people are aware.
At least 510 first-time voters are required from each of the 1 958 wards to reach the one million mark from this blitz.
I don’t think that is an asking figure if awareness is raised.
</blockquote>
ZEC deputy chairperson Rodney Simukai Kiwa told the publication that it was too early to comment on turnout. He said:
<blockquote>
It is early for us to comment on the turnout of the people on this registration blitz.
We will be in a position to comment at the end of the day (yesterday) for us to do a comparative analysis of the turnout to come up with an objective analysis.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZEC Voter Registration Blitz Commences

Opposition MP Allan “Rusty” Markham, who took the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to court demanding that it releases the electronic Voters’ Roll but lost, has said he disagrees with the ruling by the High Court.
Justice Never Katiyo sitting at the Harare High Court ruled that the application by Markham was premature.
In a statement issued on Thursday, 09 March 2023, Markham said he has instructed his lawyers to file an appeal. Pindula News is publishing Markham’s statement below:
<blockquote>
On the 7th of March 2023, the High Court heard and decided my application for the provision, forthwith, of a consolidated national voters roll in electronic form by the ZEC.
The court dismissed the application. The operative part of the court’s judgment delivered ex-tempore read that:
“This case lacks merit, is prematurely before the courts and that (sic) ZEC should make sure that it protects voters roll into consideration the Cyber and Data Protection Act”.
The background of the application is as follows: –
After analyzing the voters’ roll as at 1st February 2022, I noted a number of material breaches of the Electoral Act, and a direct failure by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to fulfill its obligations regarding the voters’ roll.
I therefore, on 27th July 2022, through my legal practitioners, wrote a detailed letter to Zimbabwe Electoral Commission outlining these breaches and demanding they rectify them.
The ZEC responded on 19th August 2022. It advised that it was in the process of producing an updated voters roll which would take into account some of the queries I had raised and implored that I wait for the new roll to establish whether there was still a need to pursue the queries.
On 9th October 2022, I made a follow-up, and on 20th of October, was advised that the roll was ready.
However, ZEC advised that it could, within thirty (30) days of the payment of the US$187,000.00 fee, only provide me with a hard copy of the consolidated national voters roll.
It could not provide me with an electronic roll as “it was currently working on enhancing the security of the electronic voters roll“. It undertook to avail the electronic roll on a platform at a date to be advised.
I disagreed with the ZEC’s proposal to delay the provision of the voters’ roll in electronic form to me for an open-ended period.
This is because the Electoral Act gives citizens a choice to get the voters’ roll either in hard copy or electronic form and the ZEC is obliged to provide it in the form requested.
The electronic voters’ roll of my choice should have been provided in a searchable and analysable form within a reasonable time.
My choice to get the voters roll in an electronic form was instructed by among other things the fact that the electronic roll is easy to analyze and review compared to the bulky hard copy (more than 187 000 pages) and that it costs an affordable US$200 as opposed to the expensive and prohibitive US$187,000.00.
A lot of money is spent on the preparation of the voters’ roll. Citizens must have an opportunity to satisfy themselves that it has integrity.
With a total of over 185 000 pages containing more than 35 million words, no person can carry out an integrity analysis of a physical copy even if they dedicate a decade of their lives to it. Let alone compare it with earlier versions.
The provision of an electronic copy is not only financially cheaper, but it is the best chance at an effective search and analysis of this important document.
At the time of my request, apart from the need to follow up on the original queries, there was an urgent need on my part to review and analyze the voters’ roll for the purpose of contributing to the public consultations regarding delimitation which was ongoing.
The failure by ZEC to indicate a time within which the electronic roll was to be provided was unreasonable and tantamount to a refusal.
I therefore, on the 2nd of November 2022, gave ZEC an ultimatum that they either provide me with an electronic voters roll within seven (7) days, or I will approach the court.
They did not respond to my letter. I accordingly instituted the application on 23rd November 2022.
At the time of the hearing, a period of 145 days had lapsed since my request and Zimbabwe Electoral Commission had not indicated when they will be able to provide the roll.
The ZEC has no right to do anything or make any discretionary decisions that will lead to my right to get an electronic roll negated.
If the ZEC decides to format the roll for protection against alteration and tampering, it must know what this process entails and communicate to me how long it will take, and when thereafter it will be able to provide the electronic roll to me.
The ZEC cannot adopt a course where it says, we intend to format the roll but have no idea how to achieve it and how long it will take us to do so, so go home, wait until we figure out how this is going to happen.
If this is a good excuse now, it can be a good excuse, with disastrous consequences, on the eve of an election.
As the voters’ roll can legally be supplied without being formatted, the decision by the ZEC to try and format it, cannot justify their refusal to provide the roll.
The process of securing the electronic roll against alteration and tampering must neither delay nor negate my right to receive the roll in an electronic form.
The alleged fear of alteration or tampering of an electronic roll given to me, is to me irrational, considering ZEC retain the original “master” copy of the roll on their system and in physical form.
I disagree with the court’s reasoning that we approached it prematurely. Once the ZEC refused to provide the electronic roll and or indicate when it was going to do so, we were entitled to seek redress from the courts.
I disagree with the court that a period of 145 days which has lapsed since my request, is a reasonable time to keep a citizen waiting for a roll that is already available.
The very failure by the ZEC on the date of the request to indicate when it was to provide the voters roll in electronic form was unreasonable and amounted to a refusal to give me the roll which should have moved the court to order its provision.
I disagree with the court that the tweets by ‘Team Pachedu’, which were made well after our request for the voters’ roll and its rejection by the ZEC, are proof that the electronic voters’ roll was tampered with, nor that they justify the ZEC’s refusal to release the electronic roll to me.
These tweets were irrelevant and should not have been considered as they came after my demand, some even came after I had already filed the application.
If a genuine case of alteration and tampering had occurred the ZEC would have shown proof of their police report and the alleged perpetrators would have been facing prosecution.
I have instructed my lawyers to file an appeal and hope to get the necessary redress from the superior court.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Allan Markham (MP) Set To Appeal High Court Ruling On Electronic Voters' Roll

The High Court has turned down an application by Citizens Coalition for Change MP, Allan Markham, to compel the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to give him a copy of the electronic voters’ roll that he requested last year, reported <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/court-rejects-mps-challenge-for-release-of-electronic-voters-roll/">ZimLive</a>.
Makharm said that he wanted the voters’ roll to track trends in the delimitation report and also, as a sitting legislator, his interest in the document was pertinent.
He also said an electronic copy was ideal as a printed one would be inconvenient and too expensive for him.
In response, ZEC said the release of the electronic voters’ roll would expose the document to manipulation.
In his ruling, Justice Never Katiyo sitting at the Harare High Court said the application was premature.
The judge urged Makharm to pursue other remedies than suing the commission. He said:
<blockquote>
Applicant said he wanted an electronic voters roll; further applicant qualifies as a person to get that voters roll. He argues hard copy is tantamount to giving him a mountain.
Courts are there to protect citizens as mandated, judicial officers that they discharge the duty without fear or favour.
The law gives ZEC control over the voters’ roll. This was done with a purpose in mind that in this time, with social media, can brew disaster hence mandating ZEC to ensure the security of the electronic voters roll is secure.
It is wise that it (the voters’ roll) is guarded jealously so that it’s given to individuals when it’s right.
The 58 days which have lapsed since this application was launched cannot be said to be too long and taking into consideration that this case came to court prematurely.
It is his (Makharm’s) right to request but in the same vein, ZEC is obliged to speedily come out with a voters roll with all security features.
</blockquote>
Justice Katiyo said full reasons will be provided in due course.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

High Court Rejects MP’s Challenge For ZEC To Release Electronic Voters' Roll

President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday urged Zimbabweans to register as voters to ensure that they vote in general elections slated for later this year.
Addressing ZANU PF supporters at the National Heroes Acre during the burial of the late national hero Retired Brigadier-General Walter Kanhanga, Mnangagwa said:
<blockquote>
As the 2023 harmonised general elections draw closer, I call upon all our citizens to register to defend, consolidate and advance the gains of our independence.
Let us continue to say no to violence while remaining vigilant against the machinations of our detractors.
As people, we must be allowed to exercise our democratic rights without external interference. As the ZANU PF government, we will continue to guarantee the right of all types of malcontents.
</blockquote>
Kanhanga died last week on Thursday at his rural Guruve home in Mashonaland Central Province.

Mnangagwa Urges Zimbabweans To Register To Vote

Harare North legislator Allan Norman Markham has taken the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to court to force the institution to give him an electronic copy of the national voters’ roll upon payment of the prescribed price of US$200 pegged for a copy.
Markham filed the application on Wednesday with his lawyers Wintertons Legal Practitioners.
In his application, the legislator said he has made several attempts to obtain a soft copy of the document from ZEC but he has hitherto been frustrated.
He further argued that ZEC is bound by the Electoral Act to furnish him or any other citizen with a copy of the voters’ roll in either hard or soft copy upon payment of the prescribed fee. He said in his founding affidavit:
<blockquote>
It is important to note that the fees for the voters’ roll in the respective formats are different.
The fee for the hard copy is US$200 plus the printing cost of US$1 per page which results in a total cost of about US$187.000.
This is many times more costly than the electronic copy of the voters’ roll, which is about US$200.00.
</blockquote>
Markham also argues that the electronic copy of the voters’ roll is more convenient than the document in hard copy format, saying:
<blockquote>
… electronic form is portable and can be easily analysed with relative ease; a hard copy of the national roll would be cumbersome to hold (one hundred and eighty-seven thousand pages) and practically impossible to analyse.
In addition, it takes the respondent 30 days to print a copy of the hard copy before an applicant who has complied with all the conditions set by the Respondent can have it.
So even if one has the money which I must say is exorbitant and unaffordable for many people including myself, you would still have to wait for a minimum of thirty days (30) for Respondent to print it.
The choice, therefore, is to procure an electronic copy is both borne out of its being more affordable and easier to obtain and analyse.
</blockquote>
Markham wants the High Court to order ZEC to avail the voters’ roll in electronic form as he requested.
He also wants the court to declare “that the tender by the respondent of a printed version/hard copy of the voters roll is invalid to the extent that it is not in accordance with the request made to it by the applicant of an electronic copy/version of the voters roll”.
ZEC has seven days to respond to the application. | <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/2022/11/harare-north-mp-sues-zec-after-denial-of-electronic-voters-roll/">ZimLive</a>

Harare North MP Sues ZEC After Denial Of Electronic Voters' Roll

CCC leader Nelson Chamisa has suggested that his party will consider boycotting the 2023 general elections if its grievances are not addressed.
CCC has demanded an independent audit of the voters’ roll, but the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has reportedly turned down the request.
In an exclusive interview with <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/thestandard/news/article/200003858/chamisa-issues-2023-poll-warning">The Standard</a>, Chamisa said that they will not allow an election without a credible voters’ roll. He said:
<blockquote>
We have been there (during the by-elections) to test the environment and also to test ZEC’s sincerity, but that test has left questions.
If there is no credible voters’ roll, we are telling citizens that it’s something that will be a deal breaker.
We will not allow an election that has no credible voters’ roll in this country.
There can’t be a credible election without access to an electronic voters’ roll, a credible one that is audited.
The voter’s roll must be audited by all parties.
</blockquote>
ZEC itself has conceded it had noted more than 180 000 errors on the voters’ roll as of 23 June 2022.
Chamisa said they have reached out to ZEC to raise their concerns but ZEC has not responded. Said Chamisa:
<blockquote>
We have written several times to ZEC, and we have written a document, a very detailed document indicating where we have qualms with their conduct and attitude, but they have not been able to respond to that document.
We have also written to them about the voters’ roll, but they have not been able to respond.
They have to pass the integrity, professionalism, and accountability test.
More importantly, they have to pass the independence test.
</blockquote>

Chamisa Demands An Audit Of The Voters' Roll By All Parties

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) banned a concert over the weekend that was meant to encourage young people to register to vote in the upcoming 2023 general elections.
The event, which had Asaph, Holy Ten and Enzo Ishall as headlining acts, was scheduled for Hartsfield Tshisanyama in Bulawayo on Saturday from 2 PM until midnight.
Initially, police had given permission to organisers, 3D Events Management, to hold the function, but then reversed the decision without giving reasons for the ban.
The police letter acknowledging receipt of the notification addressed to Mduduzi Mdlongwa reads:
<blockquote>
This office acknowledges receipt of your letter dated 7 November 2022 and has noted your request.
It remains your duty to ensure the concert is not held in contravention of any laws of the country. Thank you for the notification.
</blockquote>
The letter was signed off by one Chief Superintendent V. Nkomo, who is Bulawayo Central District Commander.

Police Ban A Register To Vote Music Concert  Targetting Young People

<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/The_Election_Resource_Centre">The Election Resource Centre (ERC)</a>, has given the <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Electoral_Commission">Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)</a> a seven-day ultimatum to release an electronic copy of the delimitation voters’ roll that will be used in next year’s general elections.
The watchdog issued the ultimatum after the electoral body had <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/zec-demands-us187-000-from-watchdog-for-the-release-of-the-voters-roll/">demanded US$187 238 from ERC</a> for an electronic copy of the delimitation voters’ roll.
ZEC cited provisions of Statutory Instrument 145 of 2022 Electoral (Voter Registration) (Amendment) Regulations, 2022 (No.1), which imposes US$1 per page of the roll as the unit price.
The elections management body also said they were in the process of enhancing the security of the electronic voters’ roll and did not provide an indication as to when its process will be finalised.
ERC then engaged Tarisai Mutangi of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), who then wrote a letter demanding that the electoral body releases a copy of the voters’ roll within seven days, according to <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/zec-given-seven-days-ultimatum-to-release-voters-roll/">NewZimbabwe.com.</a>
In a statement, ZLHR indicated that Mutangi wrote to ZEC on 7 November 2022 arguing that such a cost is shockingly high and more than the “reasonable costs” of providing the national voters’ roll and is contrary to provisions of section 21 of the Electoral Act.
Mutangi also argued that the exorbitant cost of the national voters’ roll limited the enjoyment of political rights. 
The lawyers also argued that an electronic copy of the national voters’ roll only costs US$200.
Mutangi also argued that once the delimitation voters roll is available in hard copy, it must also be available as a soft copy to make the electoral processes more transparent and consistent.
Mutangi also said the ERC was willing to have a dialogue on the way forward and permanent solutions and would only resort to instituting litigation processes as a last resort.
The ERC also expressed concern over the escalating cost of political participation in Zimbabwe as the process of accessing information held by ZEC should be simple, quick and affordable.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/"> More Pindula News</a></h2>

ZEC Given A 7-day Ultimatum To Release The Voters' Roll

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has rejected reports that the voters’ roll is inaccessible and unaffordable for the majority of citizens.
ZEC spokesperson Jasper Mangwana said any registered voter can walk into their offices and inspect the voter’s roll free of charge.
He said for a soft copy of the national roll any individual or organisation can get it for US$200.
Mangwana argued that the US$187 000 price set for a physical copy of the voters’ roll is meant to guard against the manipulation and abuse of the voters’ roll.
He said the price does not affect any Zimbabwean voter directly or indirectly as anyone can access it even from their mobile phones. Mangwana told <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/voters-roll-accessible-affordable-to-all-zec/">The Herald</a>:
<blockquote>
Any individual can visit the nearest ZEC offices and be given the voter’s roll for inspection free of charge, taking notes with his or her pen.
Individuals using the NetOne and Econet lines can also freely check on their mobile numbers to see if they are registered by simply dialling *265#.
</blockquote>
Mangwana insisted that to avoid tempering and duplication of the voters’ roll, ZEC has created an online portal where one can log in and analyse the roll adding the voters’ roll copy is available in both electronic and hard copy format. He said:
<blockquote>
For hard copy it is US$1 per page as it will have security features to avoid tempering and duplication.
Some people have been abusing the voter roll by taking critical personal information of voters including their national identity numbers and addresses.
Some have been duplicating it outside the law. In 2018 a website run in the United Kingdom had a copy of a distorted voters’ roll.
Some have been manipulating the soft copy by editing, deleting, or adding names.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, opposition CCC treasurer-general David Coltart argued that it is unconstitutional for ZEC to demand US$187 000 for a copy of the voters’ role. He said:
<blockquote>
So @ZECzim says it will charge US$187,000 to provide a copy of the voters roll. Not only is this illegal it also breaches section 68 of the Constitution. It is clearly designed to prevent opposition parties from being able to audit a fraudulent voters roll. #Zimbabwe
And if the US$187,000 is paid only a paper copy will be provided so it will still be difficult to audit. There is no reason why an electronic copy cannot be provided, it is simply ridiculous to say that it will be manipulated. The original copy stays intact with @ZECzim.
</blockquote>

ZEC Says Voters' Roll Is Accessible And Affordable To All

ZANU PF says the US$187 000 fee demanded by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) for the release of a copy of the voters’ roll is too high for the majority of political parties.
ZANU PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa told <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200003179/were-too-richzanu-pf-says-not-bothered-by-high-zec-fees">NewsDay</a> that ZEC should create an environment that allows all political parties to participate in the democratic process. Said Mutsvangwa:
<blockquote>
The threshold should be lower to ensure a democratic right for everyone. The price will not affect the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) or ZANU PF, but it affects all political parties. There should not be a barrier to entry.
</blockquote>
This comes after a number of political parties expressed dismay over the price quoted to the Election Resource Centre (ERC) by ZEC last week for a printed copy of the voters’ roll.
ERC director Babra Bhebe said authorities should intervene to ensure that the voters’ roll is affordable. Said Bhebe:
<blockquote>
The purpose of stakeholders accessing the voters’ roll is that they can do an analysis of the voters’ roll and if there are any anomalies within the voters’ roll, we then share them with the commission for the purposes of improving the quality of the voters’ roll.
Something must be done to reduce the cost of accessing the voters’ roll.
</blockquote>
National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) leader Lovemore Madhuku described the price of a copy of the voters’ roll as ridiculous. He said:
<blockquote>
This is ridiculous and completely unacceptable. ZEC does not seem to be interested in running a fair election.
They want to make sure they tighten every screw as they did with nomination fees. This should be changed as soon as possible.
</blockquote>

Price Of Voters' Roll Too High - ZANU PF

ZANU PF has conceded that the voters’ roll to be used in next year’s general elections has several anomalies.
The party’s central committee report to the 7th national people’s congress held in Harare last week reveals that its legal department conducted a mini-audit of the voters’ roll and unearthed the irregularities. It said:
<blockquote>
We received a report of manipulated voters’ rolls from different people. As such, the department conducted a mini-audit of the voters’ roll for Harare West.
The department unearthed several anomalies, including multiple registrants on a single house and non-existent addresses.
However, the time of objecting had elapsed, so we resolved to conduct a national voters roll audit, particularly in towns and cities ahead of the 2023 elections.
</blockquote>
CCC spokesperson Gift Siziba said the admission by ZANU PF that the voters’ roll has shortcomings vindicates their claims all along that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) cannot conduct credible polls. He said:
<blockquote>
ZANU PF’s admission vindicates our long-held narrative that we have a problem with Zec, and one of the issues that must be resolved before the 2023 elections is the voters’ roll.
We have proffered what ZEC must do in order to conduct a credible election, and it is not imaginary but is within the confines of the law.
</blockquote>
People’s Unity Party leader Herbert Chamuka said he was glad ZANU PF “has finally seen the light”. He said:
<blockquote>
It is refreshing that the ruling party has finally seen the light and also wants a clean voters’ roll.
However, what is worrying is that it only wants to audit the voters’ roll in towns, leaving it in shambles in rural areas where it is strong.
</blockquote>
Last week, ZEC said it will not avail the voters’ roll through the portable electronic mode (CDs) to protect it from possible tampering. | <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200002874/voters-roll-a-mess-zanu-pf">NewsDay</a>

Voters' Roll Has Several Anomalies - ZANU PF

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) insists it will not release the voters’ roll on CDs saying this will protect the document from possible tampering.
Electoral watchdogs have said that the voters’ roll can be distributed in “read-only” mode, but ZEC spokesperson Jasper Mangwana told <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200002583/zec-digs-in-on-voters-roll">NewsDay</a> that the decision not to use CDs will not be reversed. Said Mangwana:
<blockquote>
A decision to do away with CDs was already made.
That the CD could be available in a ‘read only’ mode) is not technically correct, a CD is not a data format that’s why you can write a video in MP4 format, pictures, word, or excel. The CD is accessed just like USB/DVD. 
What is key is the data format of excel which can be duplicated/pirated, edited, tampered with, and can be in the wrong hands since ZEC cannot control access to a CD given to individuals or organisations.
</blockquote>
He added that the voters’ roll is currently available in hard copy and soon in electronic format but will not be made available on CD. Added Mangwana:
<blockquote>
The voters’ roll is available in hard copy and soon in electronic format through a portal to adhere to the Electoral Act whose requirements do not allow unscrupulous elements to tamper with it and use it for commercial purposes.
ZEC will provide both hard and electronic copies as per the law and no more CDs for duplication, tampering with, or commercialisation of personal data.
</blockquote>
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) secretary for elections Ian Makone said that ZEC should make the voters’ roll easily accessible. He said:
<blockquote>
This is very crazy. When did they amend the Electoral Act for them to be able to make such changes?
You can’t audit the roll on the portal. Which law is guiding them to make the changes? It is also of concern that even the hard copy of the roll is not easily accessible.
It costs $1 per page and has over 1 000 pages and can only be availed after 30 days of purchase.
One requires a pick-up truck to carry it from the ZEC offices. The biggest question is why all that secretiveness on a public document? What does ZEC want to cover up?
</blockquote>

No More Voters' Roll On CD, Says ZEC

Zimbabwe Election Advocacy Trust (ZEAT) national coordinator Robson Chikwinya has accused the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of bias in ongoing voter registration ahead of the 2023 elections.
Chikwinya claimed that ZEC is putting more resources into rural areas to ensure that more people in perceived ZANU PF strongholds are on the voters’ roll whilst frustrating those in urban areas. He said:
<blockquote>
As an organisation, we have noted that ZEC is doing more to make sure that the registration centres for rural areas register more people than those in towns.
It seems there is bias somewhere, somehow as more people are being registered in rural areas than towns… I feel that ZEC must be more serious and treat the rural virgin voter equally as the urban one.
ZEC must up the game and also make sure that each polling centre is a registration centre.
As ZEAT we are currently engaging ZEC and Parliament over the issue so that the right to vote is guaranteed to everyone regardless of location.
</blockquote>
Human rights lawyer Freddy Masarirevhu, who has been conducting a voter mobilising campaign since February, also accused ZEC of deliberately making it hard for people to register as voters. Said Masarirevhu:
<blockquote>
The ZEC staff members are in most cases hostile to the citizens who want to register to vote.
Sometimes they set conditions that are unnecessary. One day, they were saying they were registering people who are below the age of 20 and the majority of those we had mobilised were above 20.
All the prospective registrants failed to register to vote. Such deliberate disenfranchisement of the voting process should be addressed urgently to achieve free and fair elections.
</blockquote>
However, ZEC chief elections officer Utloile Silaigwana denied claims that the elections management body was deliberately frustrating first-time voters. 
He said continuous voter registration is being conducted at all ZEC provincial and district offices during working hours. | <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200000466/zec-frustrating-first-time-voters">NewsDay</a>

ZEC Accused Of Frustrating First-time Voters

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) on Sunday opened the national voter’s roll for public inspection to enable citizens to ascertain if their details were captured correctly.
Besides physically visiting polling stations to check if they are registered, citizens can also check their registration status on a mobile phone using *265# for those with Econet or NetOne services.
ZEC spokesperson Jasper Mangwana said that they have established more than 11 000 inspection centres across the country. He said:
<blockquote>
We are opening up the voters’ roll for public scrutiny so that we enhance the credibility of our electoral processes.
Apart from civil society organisations and the media, we have also invited the political parties to be accredited for the voter’s roll inspection process.
This is an opportunity to address any anomaly that may arise in the voters’ roll.
We want members of the public to inspect the voter’s roll and identify if there are any anomalies so that we address them now as opposed to raising them at the 11th hour when we conduct delimitation and the 2023 harmonised election.
The commission wants to enhance the credibility of the voters’ roll and we have established 11 107 centres for the voters’ roll inspection.
These are mostly traditional polling stations for voters.
</blockquote>
ZEC has invited both local and international observers to observe the inspection of the voters’ roll between 17 and 26 July 2022.
More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/zec-opens-voters-roll-for-inspection/">The Herald</a>

ZEC Opens Voters' Roll For Public Inspection

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) on Friday said it had identified over 180 000 errors on the voters’ roll as of 23 June 2022.
This was revealed by ZEC spokesperson Jasper Mangwana during a Press conference in Harare.
He said ZEEC has been making alterations to the voters’ roll in compliance with section 35 of the Electoral Act. Said Mangwana:
<blockquote>
The commission continues to clean the voters’ roll because it is a fluid document. It continues to change.
The voters roll alterations that have been gazetted and effected, so far, as of June 23, 2022, is a total of 186 220 errors.
The majority of the errors include full stop, where there should not be a full stop, and omissions, in terms of the names of the chief of that area.
From November 21 up to date, the commission has gazetted a total of 96 284 deceased voters that have been removed from the voters roll.
The public must expect more because these figures continue to come every day.
</blockquote>
However, electoral watchdogs have expressed concern about the high number of errors as this may compromise the credibility of the voters’ roll ahead of the 2023 elections.
Electoral Resource Centre (ERC) programmes manager Solomon Bobosibunu said:
<blockquote>
The errors have a direct impact on ZEC’s credibility. These are administrative issues that must be very minimal, especially when the system is now computerised.
Why those errors in the first place? It’s high time the electoral body makes use of technology for accurate data capturing.
</blockquote>
Zimbabwe Electoral Support Network (ZESN) chairperson Andrew Makoni said it is imperative for citizens to inspect the voters’ roll to ensure that they are captured correctly. Said Makoni:
<blockquote>
It is critical for the people to check the voters’ roll. Errors are unavoidable, but they must be minimised.
Citizens must go and inspect the voters’ roll and ensure that all their details are captured correctly.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, Mangwana said the Treasury had released US$83 million for the delimitation exercise and the voter inspection process.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2022/07/180-000-errors-on-voters-roll-zec/">NewsDay</a></h4>

ZEC Detects 180 000 Errors On Voters' Roll

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) says it will consider another voter registration blitz towards 2023 after the number of registered voters increased by a paltry 2% in 2022 from 2018.
On Tuesday, ZEC released a statement stating that as of 10 June 2022, the country’s registered voters numbered 5 804 975, a 2% increase from 5 695 706 in 2018.
ZEC said females constitute 53,8% and males 46,1% of the registered voters.
Speaking to NewsDay on Wednesday, ZEC spokesperson Jasper Mangwana said the elections management body will consider conducting another voter registration blitz before the 2023 elections. Said Mangwana:
<blockquote>
The voters’ roll is a changing document. The commission has also been removing the deceased and adding new voters. We removed around 26 000 and 47 000 at some point.
As usual, ZEC will definitely consider another registration blitz. We really feel for the rural community because they’re very far away from our offices.
But people have to wait and hear from the commission. We will share our plan towards 2023.
</blockquote>
The low number of registered voters may be a course of concern to the country’s two biggest political parties, ZANU PF and CCC, who are targetting five million and six million new voters, respectively, for the 2023 elections.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network said that ZEC should devise strategies to encourage young people to register to vote as they constitute the majority of the population.
Here is the number of voters by province:
1 Bulawayo Metropolitan – (Female Voters: 144,020), (Male Voters: 126,894), (Total Voters: 270,914)
2 Harare Metropolitan – (Female Voters: 480,277), (Male Voters: 472,243), (Total Voters: 952,520)
3 Manicaland – (Female Voters: 417,575), (Male Voters: 321,052), (Total Voters: 738,627)
4 Mashonaland Central – (Female Voters: 282,185), (Male Voters: 254,265), (Total Voters: 536,450)
5 Mashonaland East – (Female Voters: 347,852), (Male Voters: 293,849), (Total Voters: 641,701)
6 Mashonaland West – (Female Voters: 334,272), (Male Voters: 327,126), (Total Voters: 661,398)
7 Masvingo – (Female Voters: 364,282), (Male Voters: 268,342), (Total Voters: 632,624)
8 Matabeleland North – (Female Voters: 191,214), (Male Voters: 149,191), (Total Voters: 340,405)
9 Matabeleland South – (Female Voters: 151,979), (Male Voters: 115,329), (Total Voters: 267,308)
10 Midlands (Female Voters: 410,455), (Male Voters: 352,573), (Total Voters: 763,028)
<table class="table table-bordered table-hover" id="table_1" style="width: 91.5993%; height: 356px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.24">Ser</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.55">Province</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.53">Female Voters</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.52">Male Voters</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.64">Total Voters</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.75">1</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.84">Bulawayo Metropolitan</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.85">144,020</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.8">126,894</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.89">270,914</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.87">2</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.69">Harare Metropolitan</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.88">480,277</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.68">472,243</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.91">952,520</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.76">3</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.88">Manicaland</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.95">417,575</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.9">321,052</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.89">738,627</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.9">4</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.67">Mashonaland Central</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.93">282,185</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.87">254,265</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.89">536,450</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.92">5</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.83">Mashonaland East</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.94">347,852</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.9">293,849</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.95">641,701</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.91">6</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.78">Mashonaland West</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.81">334,272</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.91">327,126</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.9">661,398</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.85">7</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.97">Masvingo</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.91">364,282</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.87">268,342</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.86">632,624</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.93">8</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.66">Matabeleland North</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.95">191,214</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.9">149,191</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.89">340,405</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.91">9</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.68">Matabeleland South</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.97">151,979</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.88">115,329</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.93">267,308</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.86">10</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.91">Midlands</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.93">410,455</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.92">352,573</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.28">763,028</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.87">Grand Total</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=0"> </td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.75">3,124,111</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.93">2,680,864</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.67">5,804,975</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.49">Percentage</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=0"> </td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=96.85">53.82%</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.55">46.18%</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.59">100.00%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2022/07/zec-to-consider-new-voters-blitz/">NewsDay</a></h4>

ZEC To Consider New Voter Registration Blitz

More than 5.8 million Zimbabweans had registered to vote as of 10 June 2022, an increase from 5.6 million in April, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has revealed.
According to the latest figures released by the electoral body, of the registered voters, 54 per cent are female while 46 per cent are male.
Harare had the highest number of voters at 952 520, followed by Midlands province, which had 763 028 voters.
Bulawayo and Matabeleland South provinces had the least number of voters with 270 914 and 267 308, respectively.
Here is the number of voters by province:
1 Bulawayo Metropolitan – (Female Voters: 144,020), (Male Voters: 126,894), (Total Voters: 270,914)
2 Harare Metropolitan – (Female Voters: 480,277), (Male Voters: 472,243), (Total Voters: 952,520)
3 Manicaland – (Female Voters: 417,575), (Male Voters: 321,052), (Total Voters: 738,627)
4 Mashonaland Central – (Female Voters: 282,185), (Male Voters: 254,265), (Total Voters: 536,450)
5 Mashonaland East – (Female Voters: 347,852), (Male Voters: 293,849), (Total Voters: 641,701)
6 Mashonaland West – (Female Voters: 334,272), (Male Voters: 327,126), (Total Voters: 661,398)
7 Masvingo – (Female Voters: 364,282), (Male Voters: 268,342), (Total Voters: 632,624)
8 Matabeleland North – (Female Voters: 191,214), (Male Voters: 149,191), (Total Voters: 340,405)
9 Matabeleland South – (Female Voters: 151,979), (Male Voters: 115,329), (Total Voters: 267,308)
10 Midlands (Female Voters: 410,455), (Male Voters: 352,573), (Total Voters: 763,028)
<table class="table table-bordered table-hover" id="table_1" style="width: 93.6618%; height: 343px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.24">Ser</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.55">Province</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.53">Female Voters</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.52">Male Voters</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.64">Total Voters</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.75">1</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.84">Bulawayo Metropolitan</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.85">144,020</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.8">126,894</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.89">270,914</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.87">2</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.69">Harare Metropolitan</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.88">480,277</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.68">472,243</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.91">952,520</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.76">3</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.88">Manicaland</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.95">417,575</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.9">321,052</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.89">738,627</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.9">4</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.67">Mashonaland Central</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.93">282,185</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.87">254,265</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.89">536,450</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.92">5</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.83">Mashonaland East</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.94">347,852</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.9">293,849</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.95">641,701</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.91">6</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.78">Mashonaland West</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.81">334,272</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.91">327,126</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.9">661,398</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.85">7</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.97">Masvingo</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.91">364,282</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.87">268,342</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.86">632,624</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.93">8</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.66">Matabeleland North</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.95">191,214</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.9">149,191</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.89">340,405</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.91">9</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.68">Matabeleland South</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.97">151,979</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.88">115,329</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.93">267,308</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.86">10</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.91">Midlands</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.93">410,455</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.92">352,573</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.28">763,028</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.87">Grand Total</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=0"> </td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.75">3,124,111</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.93">2,680,864</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.67">5,804,975</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.49">Percentage</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=0"> </td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=96.85">53.82%</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.55">46.18%</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.59">100.00%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<img alt="Image" decoding="async" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FW7GvSqWQAEOzek?format=jpg&amp;name=medium"/>

5.8 Million Recorded As Registered Voters - ZEC

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) said it will not allow for an independent audit of the voters’ roll as it is against the Electoral Act.
In a statement, ZEC Chief Elections Officer Utoile Silaigwana said registered voters will be able to check if their names are on the displayed voters’ roll that will be used for the upcoming delimitation exercise on dates to be advised. The statement reads:
<blockquote>
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) would like to inform the public that it will always make available copies of the voters’ roll upon request in accordance with provisions of the law as outlined in Section 21 of the Electoral Act. ZEC has nothing to hide as alleged in some press reports.
The Commission is also reminding the public that it is an offence to use provided voters’ rolls for other purposes unconnected to an election as stated in Section 21(7)(ii) of the Electoral Act.
The voters’ roll which will be used for the upcoming delimitation exercise will be available for inspection to members of the public on dates to be advised after it has been legally closed for delimitation on 30 May 2022. Hard copies will be displayed at all polling stations.
The onus will be on each registered voter to check if their names are on the displayed voters’ rolls and whether their details are correctly captured.
This is the verification method currently provided by the Electoral Act which the public should undertake.
Please note that the law does not provide for the independent audit of the voters’ roll hence the Commission will not yield to any amount of pressure exerted on it to act ultra vires its governing Act and Constitutional mandate.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h4>

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