(b) compile voters’ rolls and registers, or to supervise the compilation of those rolls
and registers by the authority charged with that responsibility, as may be provided
under the Electoral Law.40
Other functions of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission include provision of voter
education to the electorate; supervision of other bodies, including civil society, that it duly
accredits to provide voter education;41 and accreditation of local and international election
observers.42 On the accreditation of observers, the act proposes the creation of an
Observers Accreditation Committee chaired by the ZEC chairperson, but with individuals
nominated by the president’s office, by the minister of justice, the minister of foreign
affairs, and the minister of home affairs.43 This provision effectively permits the executive
to control the Observers Accreditation Committee, undermining ZEC’s independence.
The electoral law prohibits Zimbabwean citizens living outside the country from voting, with
the exception of those on government business, such as diplomats.44 The prohibition of the
diaspora vote disenfranchises a significant population of Zimbabweans—estimated at well
over a quarter of the country’s total population.45 This provision appears to be a violation of
the constitutionally guaranteed political right of every adult Zimbabwean citizen to vote in
referendums and elections for any legislative body established under the constitution.46
On measures against politically motivated violence and intimidation, the Electoral
Amendment Act provides that the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission shall, in
consultation with the ZEC, establish a Special Investigation Committee for each provincial
center to be chaired by a ZHRC commissioner or member of staff, and consisting of a
40 “Zimbabwe Draft
Constitution.”
41 Electoral Amendment Act, Parliament of Zimbabwe, No. 3, September 28, 2012, art. 40.
42 Ibid., art. 40(g).
43 Ibid., art. 40(h).
44 Electoral Amendment Act, art. 72.
45 Migration Citizenship Education, “Zimbabwean migrants in Britain: An Overview,”
http://migrationeducation.de/49.1.html?&rid=157&cHash=b9366be6eb00e22d84fc2d9e8709e036 (accessed 18 November
2012).
46 Constitution of Zimbabwe, art. 23(a).
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HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | JANUARY 2013
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