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This article participates on the following special index pages:

  • 2002 Presidential & Harare Municipal elections - Index of articles
  • Citizenship issues


  • Harare Mayoral and Council Elections - Voter eligibility is based on residency not citizenship
    Combined Harare Residents' Association
    February 08, 2002

    Eligibility is based on residency not citizenship - the relevant sections in the Electoral Act are:

    PART V
    RESIDENCE QUALIFICATIONS OF VOTERS
    20  Residence qualifications

    (a1) In this section and section 21-
    "proof of identity" means a passport, identity document issued in terms of section 7 of the National Registration Act [Issue of identity documents] [Chapter 10:17] or drivers licence issued in terms of the Road Traffic Act [Chapter 13:11];

    "proof of qualification as a voter" means a passport or identity document issued in terms of section 7 of the National Registration Act [Issue of identity documents] [Chapter 10:17];

    "proof of residence", in relation to a constituency, means proof by way of-

    (a) a receipt or demand for payment of any rate in terms of the Urban Councils Act [Chapter 29:15], rate or levy in terms of the Rural District Councils Act [Chapter 29:13], or charge for the provision of electricity, in the name of the owner of the property concerned or (in the case of an occupier other than the owner, such a receipt or demand in the name of the owner accompanied by a written statement of the owner confirming the occupation of the property by the occupier); or
    (b) a sworn statement by the employer of the voter or claimant confirming the voter's or claimant's address; or
    (c) a sworn statement by the voter or claimant confirming his or her address or place of residence; or
    (d) a bank statement, hospital bill or envelope with a post marking, bearing the name of the voter or claimant and the voter's or claimant's address, or such other proof of residence as may be prescribed; or
    (e) a verbal or written statement of the name of the chief, headman and, if applicable, village head of the area and village where the voter or claimant resides.

    [Subsection (a1) as inserted by s. 3 of Act 2 of 2002.]

    (1) In order to have the requisite residence qualifications to be registered as a voter in a particular constituency, a claimant must be resident in that constituency at the date of his claim:
    Provided that, if a claimant satisfies the Registrar-General that, for reasons related to his place of origin, political affiliations or otherwise, it is appropriate for the claimant to be registered as a voter in a constituency in which he is not resident, the claimant may be registered as a voter in that constituency.

    (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), a claimant shall be deemed to be residing in a constituency while he is absent therefrom for a temporary purpose.

    (3) A voter who is registered on the voters' roll for a constituency, other than a voter who has been registered in that constituency in terms of the proviso to subsection (1), shall not be entitled to have his name retained on such roll if, for a continuous period of 12 months, he has ceased to reside in that constituency.
    Provided that nothing in this subsection shall prevent his name from being struck off such voters' roll-

    (a) on his being registered in another constituency; or
    (b) if he becomes disqualified for registration as a voter.

    (4) The Registrar-General or any constituency registrar may demand from any voter who is registered on the voters' roll for a constituency proof of identity, proof of qualification as a voter, proof of residence in that constituency or all or any combination of the foregoing.

    [Subsection (4) as inserted by s. 3 of Act 2 of 2002.]



    PART VI
    REGISTRATION OF VOTERS
    21  Claims for registration

    (1) Any person who wishes to be registered as a voter on the voters' roll for any constituency shall complete the appropriate prescribed claim form and lodge it with the constituency registrar for that constituency:
    Provided that a claimant who, in accordance with the proviso to subsection (1) of section 20, seeks registration in a constituency in which he is not resident shall lodge his claim form with the Registrar-General.

    (2) Where a claimant seeks registration in a constituency in which he is not resident, he shall provide the Registrar-General with an address in that constituency where he shall be deemed to be resident for the purposes of any delimitation of constituencies in terms of the Constitution.

    (3) If, on receipt of a claim form in which the claimant seeks registration in a constituency in which he is resident, the constituency registrar is satisfied that the claimant is entitled to be registered as a voter on the voters' roll for that constituency, he shall, pursuant to the claim form and subject to this Part, enter the claimant's name and the particulars relating to him on that voters' roll.

    (4) If, on receipt of a claim form in which the claimant seeks registration in a constituency in which he is not resident, the Registrar-General is satisfied that it is appropriate for the claimant to be registered in that constituency, he shall direct the appropriate constituency registrar to enter the claimant's name and particulars relating to him on the voters' roll for his constituency.

    (5) If a constituency registrar considers that a claimant should be registered on the voters' roll for some other constituency, he shall forward the claim to the constituency registrar for that other constituency and shall advise the claimant accordingly.

    (6) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Registrar-General may direct any constituency registrar to register on the voters' roll for his constituency any person or class of persons who-

    (a) is or are registered in terms of the National Registration Act [Chapter 10:17]; and
    (b) the Registrar-General is satisfied is or are qualified to be registered in terms of this Act;
    and the registration of any such person in accordance with any such direction shall be valid in all respects as if that person had completed a claim form and lodged it with the constituency registrar concerned in terms of subsection (1).

    (7) The Registrar-General or any constituency registrar may demand from any claimant proof of identity, proof of qualification as a voter, proof of residence in a constituency or all or any combination of the foregoing.

    [Subsection (7) as inserted by s. 3 of Act 2 of 2002.]

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