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Interview with ZESN's Rindai Chipfunde-Vava
The Zimbabwean
May 25, 2007

This week on Be Our Guest, our Chief Reporter (CR) speaks to the national director of the Zimbabwe Election Support Network, Rindai Chipfunde-Vava, about the 2008 municipal, Parliamentary, Senate and Presidential elections.

CR: Zimbabwe holds "harmonised elections" next year. What are the challenges likely to arise from this process?

RCV: Firstly is the issue of the voters roll where there is no issuance of IDs by the Registrar General on the basis that there are no financial resources. Then there is the issue of time. Even if the Registrar General was provided with resources, it's less than a year to clean the voters roll. Coupled with economic hardships, we don't foresee a situation where people from the rural areas are going to get bus fare to travel to the nearest district to get IDs and also get registered on the voters roll, unless they do mobile voter registration. And this should be done at least six months before the election. Then there is the issue of the Citizenship Act, the one that denied the fourth generation the right to vote. There have been political pronouncements by Chombo that aliens would be allowed to vote. But then there is need to amend the law accordingly. Then the next big problem is the delimitation of constituencies especially the additional ones.

They should follow the universal principles:

1. Representatation
2. Reprocity
3. Equal voting strength to guard against gerrymandering and apportionment of votes

Therefore the process should take into consideration the community of interest, population size, existing administrative structures and ensure that the delimitation process is done by a competent body agreed upon by all stakeholders. And the process should consult widely among key stakeholders. The electoral infrastructure needs to be put in place and information known by all voters in time especially things like how to vote, the number of ballot papers in different colours. For instance, how do you differentiate a Presidential from a Parliamentary or Senate ballot paper? And lastly, the issue of which polling station do you go to cast the vote for all three harmonised elections.

CR: President Mugabe has said he is going to increase the number of MPs from 150 to 210 and Senators from 66 to 84. Won't this pose any problems?

RCV: The increase in the number of constituencies seems to be leading to a situation where more constituencies will be created for rural areas, traditionally the stronghold of the ruling party and reducing urban constituencies, which are a stronghold of the opposition. There is also the issue of the Senator and MP. There are different constituency boundaries. This leads to operational problems in terms of accountability and maintaining geographical links with the representatives.

I am saying there are two people, one says I am your MP, the other says I am your Senator. So who is above the other? In an ailing economy it's an unnecessary cost exercise. Selection of the Senate by proportional representation would assist to reduce these operational challenges.

CR: What is the state of the voters roll right now?

RCV: The voters roll definitely needs to be reviewed.

CR: What is you view of the atmosphere in the run-up to these polls?

RCV: The atmosphere is very tense right now. In fact, the recent political violence incident by the State against the opposition and human rights activists is already affecting a conducive electoral environment. What is needed is a conducive environment for free and fair elections where there is no selective application of the law.

CR: The opposition alleges that traditional chiefs are doing the bidding for Zanu (PF). Are there any merits to this allegation?

RCV: Considering it's a drought year, there is need to ensure there is no manipulation of the voters by the politicians using food and farming equipment. Sometimes they use fertilizer, seeds. The traditional chiefs should be impartial not partisan.

CR: Is there enough time to capture these changes in time for the election?

RCV: There is need for an all embracing constitutional review and electoral reforms based on wider consultation of all stakeholders. If there is genuine political will for reforms, then the timing of the elections could be pushed ahead to end of 2008 to allow time for some those reforms taking place.

CR: Do you think there is genuine political will?

RCV: I think there is genuine political will, in government and all the political parties.

CR: What about the issue of observation and monitoring of this election. Is that adequately covered?

RCV: Observers, both regional and international, should be allowed access to see all stages of the electoral process from pre-election, polling day and post-election period. The process should be open to close scrutiny by regional, international and local observers.

CR: Is the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) ready to run the harmonised elections?

RCV: ZEC must be capacitated and resourced, not relying on staff seconded from other ministries. It should not report to the minister of Justice who is also an interested player. They should report to Parliament and also have their own consolidated fund to enhance their autonomy.

CR: Do you think there is democracy among Zimbabwe's political formations?

RCV: Intra-party democracy should start with them, especially during primary elections.

CR: What about the issue of voter education. Do you think this is being adequately catered for?

RCV: ZEC, complemented by NGOs should make sure the relevant information is given to the voter on a continuous basis. But especially in view of the harmonised elections there is need for vigorous and a comprehensive education of the electorate to avoid these foreseen problems associated with harmonisation of elections.

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