ZEC plans to deny millions of Zimbabweans right to vote

By Tichaona Sibanda
17 April 2007

The Zanu (PF) led regime has set it’s rigging machinery in motion by announcing that it will deny close to 5 million Zimbabweans living in exile the right to vote in next year’ presidential and parliamentary elections.

Zimbabwe Election Commission spokesman Utloile Silaigwana told the state controlled Herald that only those on official government duty outside the country would be eligible to vote in the elections. He said those living in exile will not vote because the country’s electoral laws have not changed. The statement from the ZEC comes only two days after the top executive of the MDC in the UK met to discuss ways of ensuring that every Zimbabwean, home or abroad, has the right to vote in next year’s elections.

Ephraim Tapa, the MDC UK chairman said if the 2008 election is to be considered free and fair by all, Zimbabweans in the diaspora should participate and vote as Zimbabwean citizens. He said it was also premature for the ZEC to issue such a statement now, when negotiations to find a solution to the country’s problems were only beginning.

‘Yes, the electoral laws have not changed but that’s what the discussions between Thabo Mbeki and the MDC are centred on. We need changes to many rules and laws that favour a certain political party. Therefore the power of any democratic government lies with its citizens. It is a constitutional right for all citizens to exercise that power. If the right to vote is denied, democracy then becomes meaningless,’ Tapa said.

He added that participation of Zimbabweans in exile in the political process of their country was long overdue and must take place, starting with next year’s elections. Analyst believe government is worried at the prospect of allowing people in exile to vote believing most would vote for the opposition MDC.

‘Denying a vote to Zimbabweans in the diaspora is not only denying them from exercising their civic duties, but also constitutes a human right violation,’ Tapa said.

Last year, the Supreme court denied almost three million Zimbabwean citizens living in exile the right to vote in parliamentary elections on 31st March.

An application lodged by The Diaspora Vote Action Group, for all exiles to be able to cast their ballots was dismissed by chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku, himself a loyal supporter of Robert Mugabe.

President Thabo Mbeki commented soon after that ruling and said all issues concerning the 2005 elections had been addressed by Zimbabwe’s Government. It will be interesting to see how he will deal with the current issue at hand.