Data Transfer and transmission
ZESN mobile teams observed the data transfer and transmission process in all 10 provinces
on 19 December 2017. As observed in the previous phases there were challenges with
adherence to the data transmission procedures by ZEC Voter Registration Officers. For
instance, at Jameson High school in Mashonaland West which was the designated District
Centre, some of the registration teams from the Registration Centres could be seen
completing the modalities of the packaging of flash disks into tamper-proof envelopes at
the district centres with their Ward Supervisors. At Danda Primary, ward 3 in Zaka North,
ZESN observed the data export process. The transfer procedures were completed in
accordance with the laid down procedures with registration officials exporting registration
data for phase 4 on to USB drives. A print out of the statistics was also made a copy of which
was attached to one of the forms which contained the same statistics. The ZEC supervisor
signed a number of forms acknowledging receipt of the flash disk which was put into a grey
temper proof envelop for onward transmission to the district offices. The same procedure
was conducted at Rudhanda primary school in Zaka East, Ward 25, and the only slight
difference is that the registration officials decided to wait for their supervisor before
commencing the date export process. At Matinunura A and B in Mkoba Ward 10 in Gweru,
the registration officials were informed by the supervisor that they could only do the data
transfer in her presence. However, at most centres where data transfer was observed, the
handover process from the ward supervisor to the district level supervisor was largely free
from irregularities and was done in accordance with laid down procedures.
The variations which ZESN noted with regards to how closely registration officials followed
the data transfer procedures may be explained by the varying uptake of skills and
knowledge during the training. However, the inconsistencies were not of a serious nature as
ZESN observers did not find any evidence suggesting manipulation of registration data.
Issues with voter registration process