Corruption and economic crisis mar voter registration

By Henry Makiwa
21 November 2007

Rampant corruption and the economic crisis hampered the much-vaunted mobile voters’ registration exercise, an independent electoral body has said. The latest report by the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) points to numerous discrepancies in the registration process, heightening doubts over the transparency of next year’s crucial elections.

According to findings of a ZESN report that came out Wednesday, chances of a free and fair election under prevailing conditions in the country are slim.

Chief among the disparities identified by ZESN are allegations that registration officials were demanding bribes from the rural poor before recording them on the voters roll. The report attributes the corrupt practices of the officials to the low allowances the registrars receive.

The report also notes that the country’s general economic crisis, characterised by power outages and fuel shortages, also affected the mobile voter registration process. In addition findings of the ‘Mop-up Mobile Voter Registration Report’ state that posters advertising the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission were barely seen in public areas.

ZESN head Noel Kututwa said most people did not participate in the process as lack of publicity and poor selection of the registration centres brought adverse effects.

He said: “Very few people learnt about this process. We observed that the majority of the people were unaware that there was voter registration going on but were aware that national ID cards were being issued. There was little enthusiasm in the people to register as voters and most of them instead appeared content only to get the ID cards.

“The government should ensure that adequate resources are set aside for such an exercise. There is also a need to conduct a continuous, exhaustive, comprehensive and all-inclusive mobile voter registration exercise to enable all aspiring voters to register.”

The mobile voter registration process was run by the government’s Zimbabwe Electoral Commission between the 26th October and 15th November. The commission has been largely dismissed as an appendage of Zanu PF party, as known ruling party sympathisers presently lead it.