ZEC stops ZESN from conducting voter education

By Tichaona Sibanda
18 February 2008

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission last week barred the Zimbabwe Election Support Network from conducting voter education.

Our Harare correspondent Simon Muchemwa told us the ZEC is using an amendment to the electoral act contained in the country’s constitution, to stop ZESN from conducting any voter education.

‘Apparently there is a law in the constitution that requires anyone wishing to carry out such an exercise to have a licence from the government. There are indications from ZESN that they will soon have that licence so that they can continue with their work,’ Muchemwa said.

Analysts have raised fears that because of the complicated electoral process, the March 29th election will result in the highest number of spoilt ballot papers since 1980. Voters in most urban areas will be required to vote for several candidates at onec - for president, parliament (House of Assembly and Senate) and local authorities.

Muchemwa said while ZESN were shocked at this latest directive, the organisation hopes to continue with its civil education campaign. This campaign allows them to operate without any approval from the government. Civil education is very broad and deals with human rights and developmental issues in the community, while voter education teaches people about the electoral process.

‘Lawyers are saying there is no difference between what ZESN were doing before they were asked to stop and the civic education they intend to embark on now. It’s the same exercise with a different name,’ Muchemwa added.

With just six weeks to go before the crucial elections, there are fears ZEC is lagging behind in every department.

‘As we speak today, ZEC has yet to publish anywhere the constituency and ward boundaries, the number and location of the polling stations, or how voters can tell which wards they now fall under. It looks like their operations are under financed because they lack capacity in whatever they do,’ said Muchemwa.