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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Zimbabwe's Elections 2013 - Index of Articles
Election 2013 Special – Issue 1
Combined
Harare Residents Association (CHRA) & Media Alliance of Zimbabwe
(MAZ)
July 16, 2013
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Editor’s
note
The Media
Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ) and the Combined
Harare Residents Association (CHRA) are engaging in activities
under the Right to Information campaign with residents and resident’s
associations around the country. The organisations are cognisant
of the importance of access to information to residents and in the
election period, of the need to access information to ensure that
citizens exercise their political rights. This newsletter is part
of this broad campaign to ensure that ordinary citizens are able
to access the information related to the upcoming
2013 general elections. In a survey carried out by MAZ and CHRA,
fundamental information gaps were identified with regards to the
oncoming elections. The gaps were related to following five broad
areas;
- How to register
and vote: For effective participation
- What parties,
candidates and their proposals: So that they exercise their choices
effectively
- How elections
work (electoral system): So that elections represent their will
- Levels of
government they are voting for
- Zimbabwe
Electoral Commission: For accountability and ensure credible election
A summary of
the results of this survey will be published on page eight of this
newsletter. In response to some of the issues that came out in this
survey, MAZ and CHRA will be publishing an “Election Special”
on various election related information issues. The first issue
will focus on the presidential candidates, who they are, their political
history, the vision and ideologies, their policies and contribution
to nation building. It is fundamental that ordinary citizens have
access to information on candidates, their political parties and
the policies that make up their manifestos so that they are able
to make informed choices on voting day.
The vote of
ordinary people can have meaning and be effective if they have a
wider choice of information. The Centre for Law and Democracy notes
that, “if voters do not know about the parties and candidates
and their proposals and platforms, they will not be able to exercise
their electoral choices effectively and the results will not represent
their free will.” In that same vein it is important to note
that citizens have a right to access information and that public
bodies are obligated to provide information despite the apparent
gaps that we have observed, more so in a highly contested election
like the 2013 general election which has aroused both local and
international interest.
In pursuit of
this ideal and following the confirmation of candidates by the nomination
court, MAZ and CHRA will publish the first issue focusing on
President Robert Mugabe, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, Hon Minister
Welshman Ncube, Mr Dumiso Dabengwa and Mr Kisnot Mukwazhi. We hope
that you will enjoy the edition and we welcome ideas on what information
you need as we approach the elections.
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