Back to Index

This article participates on the following special index pages:

Civic group says Zimbabwe Electoral Commission under-funded, inefficient
Carole Gombakomba and Jonga Kandemiiri, Voice of America (VOA) News
February 18, 2008

http://voanews.com/english/Africa/Zimbabwe/2008-02-18-voa35.cfm

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network says the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission needs to improve its management of the electoral process leading to the presidential, general and local elections which are to take place on March 29.

The civic organization said that the recently ended process of voter registration and inspection of voters rolls showed for one thing that the commission should be better funded. Due to the limited computerization of voter rolls, commission staff had to use hard copies of the rolls to verify the registration of candidates and supporters.

ZESN also noted with concern that public entities such as the Grain Marketing Board are being harnessed to campaigning by the ruling ZANU-PF party, which continues as well to exert its influence through traditional leaders such as chiefs and headmen.

ZESN also expressed concern about the "cramped venues" in which the nomination courts took place, consequently limiting public access to the process.

Meanwhile, ZESN said it is waiting for the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to respond to a request it has submitted for permission to conduct voter education.

The election-monitoring group said it submitted an application to the commission on Monday, Feb. 11, seeking permission to engage in voter education. But commission officials have said that the matter requires a full commission decision, ZESN said.

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP