The Sunday Mail
More than 400 000 people have registered to vote in the June 10 National Assembly by-elections, which will likely go down in history as the biggest such polls Zimbabwe has conducted since 1980.
The plebiscite takes place in 16 constituencies and available data indicates this is the highest number of by-elections ever.
Analysts say the figure makes a mockery of MDC-T’s plan to boycott the polls to press for “electoral reforms”.
Zimbabwe has since Independence in 1980 held eight general elections, and none of them necessitated close to 16 by-elections at one go.
The latest Zimbabwe Electoral Commission statistics show that the average number of registered voters is 25 000 per constituency.
Dangamvura-Chikanga has the highest figures at 40 900 voters while Highfield West ranks lowest with 23 298.
Responding to inquiries from The Sunday Mail, ZEC spokesperson Mr Justin Manyau said Treasury had so far released US$2,7 million for the elections.
Government cut the poll budget from US$6 million to US$4 million.
“ZEC is prepared for the by-elections just as it has always been prepared for all elections in the past. There are no outstanding challenges as such, save for the Commission’s normal daily routine,” said Mr Manyau.
“About 45 percent of the (initial) budgeted amount has been made available and Zec hopes to receive the remainder any time from now. Zec submitted its request amounting to approximately US$6 million for the June 10 by-elections to Treasury. The funds have started to be released, with the first batch being for the Nomination Courts that sat on the 16th of April, 2015.”
He added that voter education and registration were progressing smoothly, while voters’ roll inspections had been conducted.
Data capturing of new registrants and voters’ roll upgrading are also underway.
On MDC-T threats to boycott the elections, Mr Manyau said Parliament had jurisdiction over the “electoral reforms” the opposition sought.
“It is any citizen’s democratic right to boycott or participate in the country’s elections. It is not the responsibility of ZEC to effect the so-called electoral reforms, but that is the prerogative of Parliament. ZEC can only put forward recommendations to Parliament and it does not always mean that all of them will be taken up.”
Political analysts said the high voter registration proved that the people knew their democratic rights and would not allow MDC-T to disenfranchise them by calling for boycotts.
The high voter registration shows people have largely ignored MDC-T’s nationwide campaign.
Harare Polytechnic Division of Mass Communication lecturer Mr Alexander Rusero said MDC-T would live to regret its decision.
“Democracy does not start and end with MDC-T and I think that party will live to regret its decision to boycott because the democratic process of elections will go on even without them.
“I believe these elections would have been a litmus test to give them a platform to gauge their popularity following their defeat in the 2013 harmonised elections. The boycott is misguided and there is no way they can be critical of Zec, which was born during the inclusive Government era, which the party was part and parcel of.”
Midlands State University’s Professor Nhamo Mhiripiri added: “The reforms are important as they are a prerequisite that was agreed upon during the inclusive Government. It is their democratic right to boycott, but they may soon find out that there may have been nothing to complain about.
“I believe work is being done to make the reforms. Even (MDC-T secretary general) Mr (Douglas) Mwonzora confirmed that some of their requests have been met, so I think it is not justified to boycott when the reforms are being addressed. People will continue to exercise their democratic right despite the boycott.”
The 16 seats fell vacant after MDC-T expelled its sitting legislators involved in the formation of the splinter MDC Renewal Team.
Zanu-pf also chucked out its Headlands National Assembly representative and former secretary for administration Mr Didymus Mutasa and Hurungwe West legislator Mr Temba Mliswa for plotting to unconstitutionally unseat President Mugabe.
The constituencies being contested are Harare East, Kambuzuma, Glen View South, Dzivarasekwa, Highfield West, Kuwadzana, Lobengula, Mpopoma-Pelandaba, Pumula, Makokoba, Luveve, Tsholotsho North, Mbizo, Headlands, Dangamvura-Chikanga and Hurungwe West.
