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ZEF appeals to Zimbabwe facilitators for diaspora vote
Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF)
October 04, 2011

The Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF) has taken its bid for a Diaspora vote to the facilitators of Zimbabwe's Global Political Agreement (GPA). ZEF Executive Director Gabriel Shumba this week appealed to Ambassador Lindiwe Zulu, one of the Facilitators, to ensure that the over 4 million Zimbabweans externally displaced by Zimbabwe's political and economic crisis are given the franchise following a seminar organized in Pretoria, South Africa, by the Southern African Liason office titled "Building International Consensus Policy Dialogue on Zimbabwe and Swaziland". The Seminar was held at Burgers Park Hotel and was addressed by among others, Honourable Douglas Mwonzora, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Secretary for Information and Publicity and also Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs. Also addressing the meeting was Miriam Mshayi, MDC-N Director of Strategic Planning and Implementation and Thoko Matshe of the Olof Palme International Centre.

The Zimbabwe Exiles Forum has been at the forefront of championing the Diaspora vote both in the upcoming Constitutional Referendum and the national elections. In 2010 ZEF successfully mobilized for Diaspora consensus on the Diaspora vote and dual citizenship among other issues that were submitted by the Diaspora to the Constitutional Parliamentary Committee for inclusion in the new Constitution. In response to Mr Shumba's appeal, Ambassador Zulu said that the Facilitators "will do all we can to assist" and that they were very committed to ensuring that every Zimbabwean is afforded the right to vote in a conducive atmosphere. Ambassador Zulu observed that "people must not be forced to move out of their countries because the socio-economic and political institutions have collapsed, but because they seek to advance themselves." She also mentioned that her team would be going to Zimbabwe on the 14th of October, after which some of the issues will be clarified.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's Registrar General has made a call for registration for the next elections. The arrangements do not cater for the Diaspora and ZEF has written to the Political Parties, Principals and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to request that there be special registration and voting arrangements for the Diaspora. Mr Shumba sought to allay fears of possible tempering with the vote when he said today that

"It is not a given that the Diaspora will vote for any political party and the Diaspora's right to vote is a fundamental one that we are not requesting but demanding. Safeguards that apply at home are the same safeguards that must be put in place to ensure the secrecy, the sanctity and the legitimacy of our vote. We are not requesting postal voting but voting at polling stations from where the counting and announcement will be made. The Zimbabwe Exiles Forum is already mobilizing the Diaspora extensively by carrying out voter education and in this we request those who can assist with the necessary resources, material or financial, to get in touch with us." Asked what would happen if the demand for the vote is turned down, Mr Shumba said that if the Diaspora vote is refused, "we will start a campaign similar to the one we had in 2008. It will mobilize those who can to go back home and vote, but will need even bigger resources."

Ambassador Zulu also mentioned that with regards to the Roadmap for Elections, President Zuma would need to meet the Principals in Zimbabwe to iron out grey areas, which according to Hon Mwonzora include Security Sector reforms. On this point Ambassador Zulu said that the age of coups has passed and that there should be no "holy cows" in terms of the reforms necessary before the next elections. She also stressed that the next elections should be at variance with what was witnessed in 2008 when over 400 people were killed in electoral violence, adding that what Zimbabweans want is "hope, security, political space, freedom, human rights and leaders that keep promises and are accountable to their people".

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