ZESN calls for reforms after low-turnout in Zaka East by-elections

By Tererai Karimakwenda
June 11, 2007

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), which had 33 accredited observers in the Zaka East House of Assembly by-election held on Saturday, has expressed deep concern over the electoral process and called for several reforms to increase voter confidence and participation. The by-election was for the seat left vacant by the death of ZANU-PF’s Tinos Rusere in March this year, and it went ahead without participation by the main opposition parties, who have insisted on a new Constitution and an electoral framework that does not favour the ruling party. They are also demanding this during the ongoing talks being mediated by South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki.

The ruling party candidate, Retired Brigadier General Livingstone Chineka, won the poll by 11,152 votes, with Nicholas Shanga of the United People’s Party polling 1,117 votes and Lameck Batirai of the Zimbabwe People’s Democratic Party receiving 622 votes. This is the second election conducted without candidates from both factions of the Movement for Democratic Change.

Rindai Chipfunde from ZESN said their observers noted a low turnout and reported that by mid-day, most polling stations were deserted. The state paper The Herald agreed and reported that only 13,480 villagers or 27,1 percent of the constituency cast their ballots. Chipfunde said many youth had not voted because they are not registered due to a lack of resources at the Registrar General’s office. There was also no mobile registration units reaching the rural areas where villagers are too poor to travel designated registration points.

ZESN also expressed concern over the unusually high number of assisted voters at some polling stations. Chipfunde pointed to Chigwagwa Primary School, where 68 out of 451 voters were assisted to vote by a presiding officer in the presence of the police. She called for reforms to allow voters to bring a trusted friend or relative in order to safeguard the secrecy of their vote.

The election support group has been calling for a new revised voters’ roll. Chipfunde said this would build confidence in the electoral process because many people who have voted before were turned away, even though they had proper identification. The current voters’ roll also contains the names of people who are deceased or have left their constituencies.