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Delimitation of constituencies: A potential loop hole for technical
election rigging
Crisis
in Zimbabwe Coalition
September 20, 2011
'Delimitation
of constituencies should be done by an independent body without
undue political influence and instructions seeking to give some
candidates competitive advantage and influence the election outcome'.
These sentiments
emerged from a meeting convened by the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
at Mbizo Youth Centre in Kwekwe, Midlands Province on 17 September
2011. The meeting was to give feedback on the constitution making
process and encourage the people of Kwekwe to register as voters
in preparation for the constitutional referendum and elections.
The meeting also provided a platform for the residents to discuss
amendments to the recently gazetted Electoral
Amendment Bill. The meeting was attended by the local church
leaders and the leadership of Kwekwe City Council including Councilor
Ndlovu, Councilor Masiya and Councilor Chanza. The church and political
leaders pledged to work together to campaign for peaceful electioneering
in the forthcoming polls
The following
issues were raised at the meeting:
- The police
and the army should stay out of politics and not to be sued by
politicians to intimidate the general populace. A case in mind
is the influence of one "Mudha", a close ally of Emmerson
Mnangagwa who unlawfully gives orders to arrest non- ZANU-PF sympathizers
in the Kwekwe community.
- The new electoral
bill proposed should have provisions for a transparent voting
process for civil servants that will preside over the voting process.
- The Government
should use new technology to overcome the problems of ghost voters
and allow for expedited removal of deceased voters by relatives.
One resident narrated how painful it is every time she votes,
to see the name of her son who died in 1998 on the voters roll
despite her having notified the registrar general's for
the death.
- Civil society
should move into marginalized communities to avoid preaching the
gospel to the converted. Voting in small marginalized gold-panning
communities in the midlands province has never been a free and
fair election due to myths of "ballot box cameras"
and serial number detection methods that voters are coerced into
believing that they give a trace of how individuals will have
voted.
Visit the Crisis
in Zimbabwe fact
sheet
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