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RG's offices turning away potential registrants
Youth Forum
October 09, 2012

Elections are a fundamental building block for democracy and an important process in the governance of any country. They confer legitimacy on the leaders and they (leaders) in turn derive their mandate to lead through the electoral process. However, for the conferment of such legitimacy to be credible, there is need for the wholesale participation of the country's electorate. More often than not, a country's voters' roll does not contain all members of a nation who are eligible to vote. In the case of Zimbabwe this would imply all those that are above 18 years of age and ordinarily resident in Zimbabwe.

The Youth Forum, having realized that individuals in the age ranges 18-35 are the majority of potential voters, but are disturbingly the least visible on the voter's list, embarked on a campaign to assist as many youths as possible to become registered and practicing voters.

However, news coming in from Youth Forum members in different areas of the country is disturbing to say the least, with many of the youths who would have decided to register being turned away at the Registrar General's offices for one funny reason or another.

"I went to the Registrar General's offices with a letter that was written by my father, who is the owner of our house in Glen View, confirming that I am his son and I reside at his house. I wanted to use the letter as my proof of residence" narrated Joshua Shoniwa from Glen View, Harare in an email to the Youth Forum.

He continues "When I got there, the woman officer who was supposed to register me said my letter was not proof enough and she needed another proof in the form of hospital bills, a statement from a shop like Edgars, Pelhams or TV Sales and Home.

"Where do I get the money to buy from such shops when I am unemployed? Do I have to get sick and get a hospital bill for me to become a registered voter?" asked the 27 year old.

Joshua's story is not unique, as the Youth Forum has received a number of complaints with the Registrar Generals' officers in Harare, especially at the registration center situated near Market Square Bus Terminus. Researches and reports have indicated the difficulties that youths have in accessing proof of residence, which by the way, is not a prerequisite for registering, and it is disheartening to these young men and women, especially from the urban areas, to be turned away after expending much effort in acquiring such documents.

We implore the Registrar General to investigate the on-goings at the mentioned registration center to ensure that people, both young and old, can register without facing a lot of huddles. It is the strong belief of the Youth Forum that leaders need to derive legitimacy from being voted into office by the majority and not a few individuals, and for the country to realize this, there is need to allow all potential electors to add their names to the voters roll.

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