Judgment No. CCZ 4/18 4
Case No. CCZ 3/18
outside the constituency for the relevant period, there is no provision for the equitable use of
discretion by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. Reference was made to the fact that South
Africa, Mozambique, Senegal, Rwanda, Ghana, Kenya, Botswana, Namibia, India, United
States of America and Australia all grant their citizens in the diaspora the right to vote. Finally,
Mr Mpofu argues that there was no need to amend the Constitution but that the government
needed to amend its attitude.
The second and third respondents filed papers indicating that they would abide by
the order of the Court. The first, fourth, fifth and sixth respondents opposed the application and
did so, generally, on the basis that anyone who wishes to exercise their right to vote can bring
themselves into the confines of the law as currently worded and exercise the right to vote. They
also allege that the impugned provisions are not restrictive. As regards s 72 of the Act, the first,
fourth, fifth and sixth respondents allege that it is a justified differentiation between
government employees outside the country and those pursuing their own interests abroad
because government employees are required to be outside Zimbabwe on the polling day. They
also allege that there is no obligation on the State to establish polling stations outside
Zimbabwe. The first, fourth, fifth and sixth respondents also contend that the impugned
sections are administrative in nature and are consistent with the Constitution.
Mrs Munyoro for the first, fourth, fifth and sixth respondents argues in addition
that the arguments by Mr Mpofu have already been dealt with in Bukaibenyu v The Chairman
of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and Others CCZ 12/17. Her position is that the
provisions under the erstwhile Constitution and the provisions in the current Constitution are
similar. Section 67 (3) is subject to the rest of the Constitution. A person has the right to be
retained only on the ‘most appropriate roll’. The 4th Schedule provides for an additional