Voter registration and inspection deadlines approach

By Tererai Karimakwenda
29 January, 2008

With the presidential, parliamentary and local government elections set for March 29th, all individuals who have turned 18 are being urged to go and register to vote. The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) is circulating information on the registration and inspection process to all residents in the capital. But off course it applies to all Zimbabweans of voting age around the country. There isn’t much time so it is important to spread the word to friends and family who have no access to this information.

The deadline for voter registration and for altering any details such as address and name is Friday, February 8, 2008. This is also the closing date for the nomination court for all candidates seeking to run in the elections. Centres will be open on the weekends.

Those who registered already need to go and inspect the voters’ roll to make sure their details are correct. Inspection of the voters roll begins Friday, February 1st, and ends on Friday, February 8th. Any discrepancies discovered on the day of the poll will mean they will not be allowed to vote.

In a statement released this week, CHRA advised: “If you have moved from your home or changed your name you should go and verify the information as you will be turned away on the voting day if you are not correctly registered.”

Mfundo Mlilo, an advocacy officer at CHRA, said the documents that are needed to register or to inspect the voters’ roll are an ID and proof of residence. A passport, drivers’ license or the metal identification cards will be accepted as valid ID. Mlilo explained that since many voters do not have proof of residence because they are lodgers, an affidavit from the owner of the house confirming that you are renting there would be accepted.