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Voter registration update week ending 20 July 07
Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN)
July 23, 2007

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) continued to observe the voter registration currently being undertaken throughout the country. Although a significant number of youths have been issued with identification documents most of them have not registered as voters for various reasons.

This update is based on reports submitted from ZESN observers who witnessed the exercise at Mlomoliwoto Primary School in Umzingwane District Matabeleland South; Trenance Primary School in Bulawayo; Marlborough District Offices, Kambuzuma Hall in Harare and Gambiza Primary School in Gweru Rural. Further observations were also made at Mbembesanwa Primary School in Bubi-Umguza, Punyuka Primary School in Lupane and Msengezane Primary School in Gwanda. The report is also based on the feedback that ZESN has been receiving from members of the public.

In spite of the fact that the exercise has been going on for the past four weeks most people were still unaware that they could register as voters. The exercise has been going on at a very slow and lethargic exercise with many people who turn up at these centres going back home without being served. Most people have been forced to follow the mobile teams to their next destinations, as the teams have been unable to cope with the huge demand for identity documents. ZESN observers at Marlborough District Offices and Gambiza Primary School spoke to people who had followed the registration teams from Mabelreign and Muchakata Clinic respectively. This therefore defeats the very purpose of carrying out a mobile voter registration exercise.

The situation is compounded by the fact that the majority of the centres are unable to issue out the national IDs on the same day. As a result the bulk of people flooding the registration centres are actually people waiting to collect their ID documents. ZESN has also noted with concern that most of the people who are getting national identity documents are not proceeding to register as voters as they claim that voter registration is being done at the same centres. Youths who attended ZESN community workshops also confirmed that at Gambiza Primary School, they were been informed by the registration officials that they could also register as voters. They reported that they were told that they 'should go home to their parents' after obtaining their ID cards.

Besides the delays in serving the people, the exercise has also been hamstrung by logistical shortcomings such as the shortage of essential materials. At Gambiza Primary School the centre did not have the photographic film on 11 July 2007. The film is necessary for the processing of identity cards' photographs. At Mlomoliwoto at least thirty youths could not register as voters after they were issued with ID cards without photographs.

The Registrar General's Office in Bulawayo also advised a ZESN observer who wished to transfer from Harare Central constituency that the office was not registering voters. He was advised to seek assistance from the already overwhelmed mobile registration teams. This is in contrast to legislative provisions, which provide for continuous voter registration. Static centres should continue to register voters to complement the mobile registration effort. Static centres in Harare, particularly at Machipisa and Market Square in Harare were however registering voters.

At Mlomoliwoto Primary School ZESN spoke to youths who were unable to register as they did not have proof of residence. They claimed that their traditional leaders had denied them these letters at the instigation of a known ruling party official. ZESN observers were unable to ascertain the veracity of these claims. On the whole ZESN observers did not witness any of the political parties encouraging their supporters to go and register as voters apart from the pro-senate MDC in Lupane which has been actively encouraging its supporters to go and register.

ZESN also observed a number of members of the white community who were registering as first time voters at Trenance Primary School and Marlborough District Offices. There were no reports of members of the Asian community trying to register as voters. This is a notable indication of the interst of minorities in participation in the electoral process.

Registration statistics were unavailable to observers with the team leader at Mbembesanwa Primary School accusing ZESN of leaking false statistics to Studio 7.

Traditional leaders continued to play significant but contrasting roles in the registration of voters. Whereas at Mbembesanwa Primary School the traditional leaders were at the center writing confirmation letters for their subjects at Msengazane Primary School two traditional leaders were alleged to have 'disappeared' during the period in which registration was ongoing in the area. It was not clear whether their alleged disappearance was merely coincidental or a deliberate attempt to sabotage the voter registration exercise. As a result of their unavailability people requiring proof of residence were unable to register. The police at Mbembesanwa Primary School also assisted the people to complete affidavits in order for them to obtain identity cards.

ZESN reiterates that the mobile registration period should be extended in order to cater for all people who are interested to register as voters. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission should also increase its efforts to educate people so that they may understand the importance of registering as voters. Political parties should also play an active role in encouraging their supporters to go and register as voters while more resources should be allocated to the Registrar General's office so that it may be able to expeditiously satisfy the high demand for identity documents and registration.

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