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The 'Youth Go Register to Vote' campaign scales new heights
Youth Forum
February 10, 2011

Reports reaching the Youth Forum Information Department are that more and more youths receiving our SMSs alerts encouraging them to register to vote are taking the appropriate action and are actually visiting their respective Registrar General's offices in an attempt to register themselves as voters. Although, some have managed to register, it is however saddening to note that several youths have been or are being turned away for a variety of reasons, some of them very obnoxious. We have received numerous responses for the current campaign both via SMSs and through other media like the website, Facebook and even phone calls and we will try to summarise the main concerns and give a few random examples of such concerns and the reasons for the failure to register.

1. Proof of Residence

The main reason for failing to register as voters, according to the responses we are getting, happens to be the availability of proof of residence. Many youths, especially in the rural areas, say they have no access to 'whatever they call proof of residence', according to one youth from Mashonaland East, and are being turned away on that basis. The proof of residence for rural youths can be obtained from their chiefs or headmen, who in most cases are Zanu PF sympathisers and would want to know why any young person would want to register to vote well before the 'president' announces the election dates. In urban areas the proof is most acceptable in the form of an electricity bill or City Council bill that either has your surname or at least with a letter of confirmation from one's landlord in the case where one is renting accommodation. Many urban youths say their landlords are saying they don't want to be dragged into politics by writing such letters; this is as a result of many youths being non-owners of the land they reside on.

Eunice Tafadzwa Chemhuru, ID # 29-216601 Z 66, from Shurugwi under chief Nhema and headman Buchwa was denied to register because she didn't have the required proof of residence, when she went to headman Buchwa, she was asked to pay US$10 'for the letter because the headman said his stamp cannot be used for free', unfortunately, she didn't have the money.

2. Convenience and Accessibility

We have received numerous SMSs, calls and e-mails from youths, especially in rural, areas asking for assistance to travel to their nearest Registrar Generals offices, which in most cases is more than 30km away from their residences. The youths are also complaining that, in cases where they are able to travel, they spend hours at the offices before they are attended to and many have returned home without fulfilling their mission.

Gofdrey Chifadza, ID # 18-674523 S18, under headman Mutasa and chief Nyoka in Chikomba District sent the following SMS, which was translated from the vernacular: "I live far away from Chivhu or the Range Offices where we can register, can you help me with the bus fare to go and register?"

Thandekile Mlotshwa from Nguwoyenja under chief Ndiweni in Matebeleland South said after reaching the Registrar Generals office at around 1030 in the morning, she was told to wait for the officer responsible for registering voters and had to leave the offices at around 1500hrs as she was hungry after no one had attended to her.

3. Citizenship

Many youths are surprised to be told that they are aliens in the only country they have lived since birth. This is as a result of their parents being of foreign origin (mainly Zambia and Malawi) despite these youths having been born and lived only here in Zimbabwe.

Marshal Banda, ID # 63 873655 B63, from Glen Norah B in Harare was turned away at the Market Square Registrar's offices because 'my deceased parents migrated from Zambia a long time ago, they now require me to denounce my Zambian citizenship, which I never even acquired, neither do I know anyone in Zambia who can help me, what should I do, please tell me as I now want to act to help Zimbabwe, my country, a better place to stay'. This was sent via e-mail.

4. National ID and Death Certificates of Guardians / Parents

Although the national ID card is an understandable pre-requisite for registration, the tedious process and other requirements associated with acquiring this ID card has made it very difficult for many young man and women to register. Many youths have also claimed that they are being asked to come with death certificates of their parents or guardians, documents which in most cases are not in the custody of these young people, this has deterred many youths from registering as well.

Jonathan Ngano from Mahusekwa said he has spent the past two years trying to acquire a national ID card but all his efforts have been in vain. He said this is because he cannot produce the required death certificates of his parents which are in the custody of his uncles. He said he cannot even dream of visiting the Registrar General's office without the document and is also asking for help to acquire this very important document.

Meanwhile, the Youth Forum Offices in Harare remain closed as the state agents are continuing with their aggression and are demanding to know the whereabouts of the National Coordinator. This continued harassment on the person of the national coordinator and the organisation in general is meant to derail the campaign to have more youths registering as voters and intimidate the general youth populace, something the coordinator and his team has vowed will not be achieved. The National coordinator has vowed to continue with the campaign while in hiding and the rest of the team is also working from different locations for fear of arbitrary arrests and harassment.

The Youth Forum Board Chairperson, Madock Chivasa has strongly condemned the attacks on the organization and has reiterated that no amount of intimidation or harassment is going to stop the campaign, as it is a democratic right of the young men and women to register and vote. He is urging all the youths and others to "GO AND REGISTER TO VOTE; IT'S YOUR RIGHT ANYWHERE."

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