appears that officials have not yet received clear instructions on how to handle registration
of citizens classified as aliens. Such cases have been reported in Kuwadzana Wards 38 and
44 and Highfield East Ward 25 in Harare Province and some areas in Mashonaland West.
ZESN reiterates its call for the ZEC to promptly provide the necessary clarity on the new
status of the so called aliens. Such clarity needs to be mainstreamed into future registration
efforts and be widely publicized by electoral stakeholders in particular the ZEC and the ZHRC
to ensure enfranchisement of every potential voter. In addition efforts should be made by
the registrar of general to facilitate provision of long birth certificates to the so called
“aliens” born in Zimbabwe and other necessary documentation.
Closing of centres over lunch
Reports from ZESN static observers at the District centres show that some of these centres
are closing during lunch hour leaving no one to attend to potential registrants. In some
instances, the registration officers come back late after lunch and close the centres before
the stipulated closing time (1700hrs). For instance, on 7 December 2017 at the Chipinge
District centre, the registration officers delayed in coming back after lunch resulting in some
potential registrants eventually giving up on the registration process. However, at some
centres such as Chirumanzu, Mutare, Masvingo, and Chimanimani District centres, the
officers take turns to break for lunch. Commendably, at the Gutu District centre, the
registration officers sometimes do not break for lunch when there are large queues of
people wanting to register.
Turnout
According to statistics released by ZEC on 14 December 2017, 4,345,808 registered had been
registered since the start of the BVR Blitz on 10 October 2017. ZESN commends ZEC for
availing the statistics on registered voters on a regular basis and reiterates its position for
the Commission to also provide disaggregated statistics of sex and age of the registrants as
well as by geographical breakdown.
Commissioner of Oaths