the short version of the same document. Regrettably, Candidates could have easily
circumvented these challenges had they submitted their papers prior to the day of the
sitting of the Nomination Court, as permitted by law.
Submission came too late
Registered in the wrong Ward
Not registered to vote
Problems with the Voter Registration
Record
Incorrect or incomplete Documentation
Politicxal party not signed for the
candidate
Insufficient Nominators
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
Fig 1: Reasons for rejection of nomination papers
2. Issues with the voters’ roll
Some prospective candidates’ applications were rejected either because they could not
be found on the voters’ roll or because of inconsistencies between the applicant’s
national registration details or the information on the voters’ rolls that were being used
by the courts on nomination day. For instance, a prospective candidate for Ward 4 in
Harare West had their nomination papers rejected because their name was not found on
the voters’ roll despite the fact that he was in possession of his registration slip that
indicated that he was a registered voter. Similarly, a prospective candidate for Insiza
Rural District Council in Matabeleland South was rejected because the serial number on
his voter registration slip was said to be similar to someone else’s on the voters’ roll.
These incidents, though few, are a direct consequence of the voters’ roll not having been
finalised and made available to the political parties until after the day of the Nomination
Court, in contravention of the Electoral Act1. Hence the law needs to provide a specific
timeframe when the final voters’ roll can be availed to the political contestants before
the sitting of the Nomination Court.
3. Prospective candidates registered to vote in different wards
ZESN received reports of instances where prospective candidates for the local authority
elections were rejected on the basis that they were registered to vote in wards different
1
Section 21 (3) of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13]
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