The Sunday Mail
Online Reporter
THE proposed amendments to the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13), which will legislate for both the youth and women’s quota, among other changes, was approved by Cabinet on Tuesday.
In her post-Cabinet media briefing yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said the new electoral regulations will help in “providing clarity on when and how a candidate can withdraw their candidature in an election to afford Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) sufficient time to make changes to the design of the ballot and advising the electorate of any changes to the candidature in an election.”
The Bill provides a timeframe within which National Assembly and local authority candidates can withdraw from contesting in an election, as well as incorporating the youth quota and the 30 percent women’s quota.
It will also amend the definition of proof of identity.
“In terms of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, one has to be a citizen to qualify as a voter; accordingly, only a valid passport or national identity card will be required as proof of identity,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
