in Gokwe Gumunyu indicate that potential registrants are being intimidated through
misinformation that once they register using BVR it will be easy to see who they vote for.
The intimidation is not only targeted at potential registrations but also at observers. ZESN
has received several reports of observers being intimidated by political actors resulting in
the inability of the affected observers to fully discharge their duties. For instance, the ZESN
observer who was deployed in Ward 2 of Epworth Local Board was denied access to the
registration center after some individuals, claiming to represent the ruling party, insisted
that ZESN observers should not be granted access into registration centers.
ZESN reiterates its calls for the need for the establishment of a conducive political
environment devoid of intimidation and violence during the registration exercise and during
the period leading to the 2018 elections. ZESN calls upon the ZEC to facilitate the creation of
multiparty liaison committees. MPLCs would be an appropriate platform to elicit the support
of politicians in adhering to the stipulated code of conduct for political parties.
Voter education
One of the key determinants of a successful voter registration process is that persons who
are eligible to register must be sufficiently knowledgeable and well informed on how they
can be enrolled on the register and why it is important for them to do so.
Effective civic and voter education is such a massive exercise that requires concerted efforts
from the Commission as well as its partners such as Civil Society Organizations. It is clear
from observation that ZESN has made so far, that there is need for considerably more
efforts to be made by both ZEC and its partners to ensure that they broaden their reach of
the potential registrants during the second, third and fourth phase of the registration
exercise.
The voter education drive will also need to respond to the turn out trends, so as to enhance
the effectiveness of the voter education efforts.
Proof of Residence
The requirement of proof of residence is proving to make the registration process
cumbersome as the majority of registration centers do not have commissioners of oaths to
certify the affidavits that would have been completed by potential registrants. Consequently
registrants have had to look for a Commissioner of oaths elsewhere and incur additional
costs and unnecessary inconveniences during the process. The fact that 22 873 potential
registrants was turned away by ZEC for various reasons including failure to provide proof of
residence is testament to this. In Mbire ward 9, ZESN received reports that traditional
leaders were providing proof of residence on partisan grounds.