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Chris Goshomi, the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Leeds Community (ZLC) in the UK, has urged the Zimbabwean government to invest in the welfare of diaspora communities. He believes that the Zimbabwean diaspora community plays a crucial role in the country’s economy. The UK census data showed that Leeds has the highest concentration of Zimbabweans in the country.
Goshomi stated that Zimbabweans abroad contribute to the country’s development through skills transfer, philanthropy, and investments. The Zimbabwean diaspora community remitted over US$1.6 billion, a significant portion of the country’s GDP. According to Goshomi, it is essential to invest in the welfare of diaspora communities as they are a valuable asset. He told <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/life-amp-style/article/200020799/diaspora-central-to-zimbabwes-economy-goshomi">NewsDay</a>:
<blockquote>
Zimbabweans abroad continue to contribute to the country’s social and economic development through skills transfer, philanthropic contributions and investments. This presents a critical need to invest in the welfare of these diaspora communities as they are a huge capital asset.
The International Organisation for Migration  Zimbabwe national country strategy 2021 to 2024 report states that, in the period 2020 to 2021, the Zimbabwean diaspora community remitted over US$1,6 billion which is a significant percentage of the country’s GDP.
We are working alongside many of these established settler communities such as Indians, Chinese, Pakistanis and other African communities to learn as much as possible from their experiences of creating sustainable communities here in the UK and also how we can transform our country back home.
Presented with this population advantage, it is only prudent for us to organise ourselves to create a vibrant community like many other established communities that have settled before, who have become highly influential and are contributing positively, economically, socially and politically in the country.
</blockquote>
The ZLC has solid structures in place, including sub-committees working on various projects, focusing on welfare and support. They organize events such as a Christmas party to foster a sense of belonging and community among Zimbabwean migrants. Goshomi believes that celebrations and social gatherings are crucial to bringing people together and strengthening relationships within the community. These events also provide an opportunity for networking with other communities and fostering inclusivity.
Goshomi acknowledged the challenges faced by new migrants, particularly those working in the healthcare sector with precarious contracts. He said the ZLC aims to create a relaxed environment for open conversations and better communication among community members to address the problems faced by the community.
Zimbabweans living abroad have been urging the government to grant them the right to vote and provide tax breaks to encourage them to send money back home and invest in the country. However, some Zimbabweans are refusing to send money until they are granted voting rights, while others are choosing to invest in other countries due to the challenging business environment in Zimbabwe.
For Zimbabweans in the diaspora to be able to vote, the country’s Constitution needs to be amended. The ruling ZANU PF party has been saying that it would only consider allowing diaspora voting if Western countries lift the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe during the early 2000s. The government has also cited resource constraints as a reason for not prioritising diaspora voting.
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

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Zimbabwean Govt Urged To Invest In The Welfare Of Diaspora Communities

The Zimbabwe Diaspora Vote Initiative (ZDVI) has called upon the 10th parliament of Zimbabwe to advocate for changes in the Electoral Amendment Act, allowing Zimbabweans living abroad to participate in general elections.
ZDVI congratulated the recently sworn-in parliamentarians and urged them to amend laws that grant voting rights to Zimbabweans working at the country’s embassies while denying the same right to other diaspora residents.
The organisation argued that Zimbabweans in the diaspora, who contribute to the country’s economy through remittances, should have the opportunity to vote. Recent statistics indicate a significant increase in diaspora remittances, highlighting their economic impact. In a statement, ZDVI spokesperson Padmore Kufa argued:
<blockquote>
We would like to extend a special message to those who were not present when the Electoral Amendment Act was debated during the last parliament during which the need for diaspora votes was raised.
Hopefully, the diaspora vote requirement will be incorporated into the new law as the debate continues.
We believe that as every constituency in Zimbabwe has someone who has left for the Diaspora, it should be in the interests of every member of parliament to ensure that the citizens from their constituency based in the diaspora are accorded an opportunity to participate in the Zimbabwean electoral process in the same way as Zimbabweans based in the Diaspora working at the Embassies are allowed to vote.
Who are contributing to the economic development of the country while working for different employers. It is segregation to give rights to some Zimbabweans in the diaspora while leaving out others living in the same geographical region.
</blockquote>
ZDVI has highlighted that a significant portion of remittances is sent by individuals who are denied their constitutional right to vote. The initiative predicts that the number of Zimbabweans working abroad will continue to increase as more seek better opportunities elsewhere.
The organisation said the existing legislation, which permits only embassy workers to vote while denying the same right to other Zimbabweans in the same country, violates the constitutional provision granting every citizen the right to vote. Therefore, the current legislation must be amended to allow both embassy workers and other diaspora residents to exercise their voting rights.
The ZANU PF government has so far refused to allow the diaspora vote, citing logistical challenges and concerns of potential electoral manipulation. 
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

ZDVI Urges Zimbabwe's Parliament To Amend Laws To Allow Diaspora Voting Rights

Opposition legislators are still pushing for the diaspora vote to be captured in the Electoral Amendment Bill arguing that Zimbabweans in the diaspora are contributing to the development of the country through remittances, <a href="https://cite.org.zw/mps-push-for-diaspora-vote/">reported CITE</a>.
As the National Assembly debated the Bill, Harare North MP Allan Markham (MDC Alliance) said there is no reason for diasporans to be denied the right to vote. He said:
<blockquote>
The biggest thing that must be covered clearly in this Bill is the issue of our diaspora. Our diaspora is the biggest foreign currency earner in this country.
Our human resources that are being exported are the biggest owners of money into the country and they do have the vote.
I do not care if it is a postal vote, special vote, or any other vote; there is no reason why the diaspora cannot vote if they are Zimbabwean citizens.
It is in the SADC Protocol. Most SADC countries facilitated it and yet we deny them. Yet our biggest earner of forex is the diaspora.
</blockquote>
Makoni Central MP, David Tekeshe (MDC Alliance), said it is not true that diasporans will vote for the opposition. Said Tekeshe:
<blockquote>
Zimbabwe is exporting labour and are you saying when those people want to vote, they should take vacation leave come back home and vote?
We have exported 500 teachers. Should they all take vacation leave to come back home and vote?
In the past, people used to think that the diaspora vote would go to the Opposition but that is not true.
We have seen the likes of Nick Mangwana being offered jobs back home while they are in the UK, in the diaspora; which means there are a lot of people in the diaspora who support the ruling Party.
We cannot deny people their right to vote because we are afraid they might vote us out.
There are others who are in the opposition who are supporting the gold mafias because they are benefiting from your presence and they will vote for you. I think the diaspora vote must be considered.
</blockquote>
The Electoral Amendment Bill seeks to amend the Electoral Act. It was approved by the Cabinet on the 4th of October 2022.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Opposition MPs Push For Diaspora Vote

The opposition ZAPU party has demanded that Zimbabweans living abroad should be allowed to vote as their remittances back home are helping to keep the country economically afloat.
ZAPU national organiser Ndodana Moyo told <a href="https://cite.org.zw/zimbabweans-in-the-diaspora-must-be-allowed-to-vote-zapu/">CITE</a> that Section 67 of Zimbabwe’s constitution grants the right to vote to all Zimbabweans, including those living in the diaspora.
He said even those Zimbabweans living in South Africa, Botswana, and Namibia are not able to return home to vote due to their work circumstances. Said Moyo:
<blockquote>
They have a right to choose which president they want to lead them. It is important to appreciate people in the diaspora, who are sending their remittances to this country.
When you go to Mukuru, Western Union, and other platforms daily, people queue there daily for money sent by relatives in the diaspora.
</blockquote>
He argued that Zimbabweans abroad were equally paying taxes to the government via their remittances and should therefore be allowed to partake in civic processes. Moyo said:
<blockquote>
The government wants their money but not their vote, how does it work? The Diaspora is a special component of Zimbabwe, which sends money to assist in the development of their families and Zimbabwe as a whole, so they deserve and should have a right to shape the course of this country.
Every Zimbabwean who wishes to vote and participate in the polls must do so including those in the diaspora.
</blockquote>
Moyo said the Electoral Amendment Bill should not be about “trivial” issues such as whether people can use their driver’s license to vote or not, but on important issues such as the diaspora vote among others.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZAPU Demands That Zimbabweans In The Diaspora Be Allowed To Vote

Zimbabweans based in the diaspora will not be able to vote in local elections in the foreseeable future as the Government insists that the country’s constitution does not provide for the diaspora vote.
In 2018, President Emmerson Mnangagwa pledged to extend voting rights to millions of Zimbabweans based abroad but hitherto, that has not happened.
Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi, recently told Parliament that the Constitution does not provide for the setting up of constituencies outside the country.
Responding to questions from legislator Godfrey Sithole on the government’s plans to make sure that citizens in the diaspora vote in national elections, Ziyambi:
<blockquote>
In terms of Section 160 of the Constitution, there are 210 constituencies and they are all located within the boundaries of the country. 
The Constitution does not mandate the setting up of constituencies outside the borders of Zimbabwe.
As decided by the courts in the Gabriel Shumba case, the courts recognised that our country does not have foreign constituencies as of now and since the Constitution does not envisage constituencies beyond the borders of Zimbabwe, it follows that no voter’s roll can exist outside the 210 constituencies into which Zimbabwe is divided for voting purpose.
</blockquote>
Ziyambi added that the residence requirement was a requirement for citizens whether locally based or abroad. He said:
<blockquote>
If a person requires to vote, he has to be registered in a constituency within Zimbabwe whereby the residential requirement is among the voter registration requirements provided for by our electoral law.
It is also important to note that the residence requirement is not a requirement strictly for persons in the diaspora as it also affects those who live in Zimbabwe.
For example, a person who no longer lives in the Hatfield Constituency for the relevant period will not be allowed to vote in that constituency’s elections, notwithstanding that they still live in Zimbabwe though living in a different constituency, for example, an area in the Harare North Constituency.
In this regard, the residence requirements are not directed or targeted to exclude the diaspora vote as is the assumption by many.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://cite.org.zw/our-constitution-does-not-allow-diaspora-vote-ziyambi/">CITE</a></h4>

Our Constitution Does Not Allow Diaspora Vote - Ziyambi

Civil society organisations (CSOs) have said it was now too late to call for the Zimbabweans in the diaspora to be allowed vote in the 2023 elections. 
They said the process is long and can’t be done within the limited space of time left.
In its first electoral reform series titled Diaspora Vote in Zimbabwe: Feasibility versus Desirability, civic society group Tutuma Zimbabwe said Zimbabwe has failed to amend effect constitutional and Electoral laws. 
The Tutuma Zimbabwe study said laws should be amended to ensure clear procedures on how citizens residing outside the country will be registered and how they will vote on the polling day.
Election Resource Centre programmes manager Solomon Bobosibunu told NewsDay that it was too late to call for the diaspora vote before next year’s elections. Bobosibunu said:
<blockquote>
It’s not justifiable, but practically it’s no longer possible. The timeframe left between now up to the time Zimbabwe can promulgate laws that will be used in an election means that we might be behind time. If all the laws are not enacted by January 2023, then ultimately those laws will not see the light of the day.
There is no longer sufficient time for amendments to the Electoral Act to be done; we lost a lot of time without even taking any action around the Diaspora vote. This should have been started around 2018-2019. Now we are only left with five months before 2023.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) chairperson Andrew Makoni said Parliament has until the end of the year 2022 to agree to electoral reforms and pass the necessary law. Makoni added:
<blockquote>
There is still time for the electoral reforms to be made. However, it will be up to Parliament to consider the diaspora vote or not. As Zesn we have been pushing for a law allowing all citizens to exercise their right to vote despite their location.
</blockquote>
Numerous voices have been calling for the diaspora vote with the ruling ZANU PF reluctant to push the agenda.
National Assembly speaker <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Jacob_Mudenda">Jacob Mudenda</a> is one of the unusual voices that recently <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/05/30/mudenda-says-zimbabwes-constitution-must-be-amended-to-allow-diaspora-vote/">pushed for citizens in the diaspora to vote</a>, a move that reportedly got him in trouble with his party.
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"Too Late To Call For The Diaspora Vote Before 2023"- Election Watchdog

Zengeza West MP, Job Sikhala (CCC), has defended National Assembly Speaker Jacob Mudenda who has been criticised by his ZANU PF colleagues for saying Zimbabweans living outside the country should be allowed to vote.
Posting on Twitter this Saturday, Sikhala argued that there was nothing amiss for Mudenda to call for the diaspora vote since it is the role of Parliament to amend laws, in this case, the Electoral Act, to ensure that they are in sync with the National Constitution. <a href="https://twitter.com/JobSikhala1/status/1532960989662134272">Wrote Sikhala:</a>
<blockquote>
The pontification of @ZECzim’s Priscilla Chigumba has always been to blame the Legislature to put in place Electoral reforms that suit the holding of free and fair elections in Zimbabwe.
The initiative taken by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal &amp; Parliamentary Affairs that culminated in the Kariba retreat last weekend should be seen in that light.
This is the retreat with other stakeholders that studied the pitfalls of our Electoral Act in the present form that various suggestions emerged to align the current Electoral Act with the constitution.
This is when the Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda, an Advocate of law, he is, to suggest that no Zimbabwean should be left to participate in the affairs of his/her motherland and that diaspora vote should be allowed.
He said that the diaspora vote can only come via an amendment to the current constitution, to have an unambiguous provision to facilitate the voting of all Zimbabweans no matter their location.
Despite this contentious issue, there are a number of provisions in the current Electoral Act that needs to be changed to be in sync with the new constitution.
The current Electoral Act as it stands is at variance with the new constitution. It needs a complete overhaul and satisfies what needs to be included in the new Electoral Act.
There are other pertinent issues such as gender parity in all spheres of decision making that need to be in included in the new Electoral Act.
There was the recent amendment to the constitution that brought, the women and youth quotas in provincial Councils, local authorities and the Legislature. All of those need to reflect in the Electoral Act.
Zimbabweans of all walks of life must support the current efforts toward Electoral reforms that have been a subject of contention for a long time.
Parliament as the third arm of the state is the institution bestowed with that responsibility to bring sanity to our Electoral Act.
May all those with nefarious agendas allow Speaker Jacob Mudenda to bring agendas of national concern to Parliament.
Those who benefited through the electoral system that had no checks and balances must allow the Legislature to initiate its own agendas. The suggestion for the registration of political parties is new.
Why should we not be allowed to move the agenda to be in sync with other developed democracies in Africa such as Kenya, SA and many others that regulate the operation of political entities?
I urge all of you to rally behind the reform agenda that is being initiated by Parliament. 
Our country has had disputed Elections for far too long. We need an electoral framework that will give satisfaction to everyone who will participate in the elections.
I thank you.
</blockquote>
<h4>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h4>

Sikhala Defends Mudenda In Diaspora Vote Row

ZANU PF Secretary for Finance Patrick Chinamasa, who is also the Acting Political Commissar, has dismissed calls for a diaspora vote, saying the party will only entertain the idea when sanctions imposed on the country by western powers are removed.
Chinamasa made the remarks on Thursday afternoon while addressing reporters at the party’s main headquarters in Harare.
The former Finance and Justice Minister said allowing millions of Zimbabweans living abroad to take part in the country’s polls would be a disadvantage to President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s party.
He said some senior ZANU PF officials are under a travel ban to western countries and this will put them at a disadvantage as they will not to able to travel abroad to campaign. Said Chinamasa:
<blockquote>If you want a diaspora vote, first level the playing field by removing sanctions, so that Zanu PF can go there and campaign freely without being vetted against sanctions.
We will not allow those in the diaspora the right to vote because we are under sanctions in those countries.
I cannot go to campaign in the United Kingdom because of sanctions as we all know and as long as that situation persists, we will say no vote to people in the diaspora because we will be allowing only those who have been asking for sanctions to have access to that electorate.
That of course is not acceptable, and we will not allow it. Sanctions must fall and then we will start talking about the diaspora vote.</blockquote>
Meanwhile, MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere ZANU PF’s position is unconstitutional and irrational. <a href="https://twitter.com/advocatemahere/status/1408069994311667728">She tweeted:</a>
<blockquote>Mr Chinamasa’s position is not only unconstitutional but grossly irrational. Zimbabweans abroad are entitled to the diaspora vote.
We take diaspora remittances yet they want to deny Zimbabweans suffrage? Nonsense upon stilts.</blockquote>
Zimbabweans living abroad are estimated to be over five million and most of them left due to unending economic problems caused by ZANU PF misrule.
There are strong beliefs Zimbabweans living abroad favoured change of government back home and would not hesitate to vote the opposition.
Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube made it clear that diaspora remittances stood at US$1 billion for 2020 making Zimbabweans living abroad regime’s current backbone.
<h4>More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/diaspora-vote-only-possible-after-sanctions-removal-says-chinamasa/">NewZimbabwe.com</a></h4>

No To Diaspora Vote Until Sanctions Go - ZANU PF

Former Leader of The Opposition in South Africa, Mmusi Maimane said the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region is faced with crises in Mozambique and Zimbabwe which regional countries should tackle as a matter of urgency.
Maimane asserted that an unfolding dictatorship can be averted by granting Zimbabweans scattered in the diaspora the right to vote to ensure a free and fair election.
Maimane, who is the convenor of the One South Africa Movement (OSA), said if South Africa fails to push Harare for the diaspora vote, it would be subsidising President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s brutal and corrupt dictatorship. Maimane tweeted:
<blockquote>In order to effectively #ResistDictatorship Zimbabwe must allow for #DiasporaVoting and give voting abroad rights to all its citizens. We do that here in SA.
All SADC states must support this. That is how we will have a free and fair election in that country.
If South Africa does not advocate for the #DiasporaVote for all citizens of Zimbabwe in the next election, we will continue to subsidize the brutal, corrupt dictatorship of @edmnangagwa.
We simply can’t afford to do that. This is an important reform that must be implemented.
If we ignore terror threats in Mozambique that will become our local problem.
If we ignore dictatorship and electoral abuses in Zimbabwe that will continue to be a local challenge.
These foreign policy matters must be addressed more forcefully and proactively.</blockquote>
The Mnangagwa administration is accused of consolidating authoritarian rule and pushing the country towards an undeclared one-party-state due to its penchant to use State institution to suffocate the main opposition, the MDC Alliance.
Scores of civic activists and opposition officials have been arrested and kept in pre-trial detention for several months at times for violating non-existent laws.

Diaspora Vote Will Guarantee Free Polls In Zimbabwe - Maimane

The Zimbabwe Electoral Support Network (ZESN) has called on Parliament to amend the Electoral Act, to allow diasporans the right to vote in the next general elections in 2023.
Appearing before the Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs in Harare on Thursday, ZESN director, Rindai Vava said diasporans should be allowed to vote since the government urged them to play a key role in Zimbabwe’s economy. Vava said those in hospitals and prisoners should be allowed to vote. Said Vava:
<blockquote>The Constitution grants every Zimbabwean the right to vote, this  electoral law does not give life to, as it excludes millions in the diaspora, prison and hospital. In keeping with the thrust of the new dispensation to include citizens in the diaspora in national development, the selective inclusion of Zimbabweans in the diaspora and those in places of confinement and hospitals must be reviewed.</blockquote>
Vava argued that the diaspora vote should be considered given developments in other African countries in  the region such as Kenya, South Africa, Mozambique, Botswana and Namibia. Her oral evidence was based an electoral petition submitted to Parliament in December last year.
More: <a href="https://zimmorningpost.com/zesn-calls-for-diasporan-votes/">Zim Morning Post</a>

ZESN Calls For Diaspora Vote, Voting For Prisoners In 2023 Elections

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said that he agrees with the diaspora vote in principle and blamed inadequate resources for the failure of his government to allow the diaspora to vote. At a meeting with Zimbabweans in New York, Mnangagwa said that his government will use the next 5 years to try to implement Diaspora voting. Responding to a question, Mnangagwa said,
<blockquote>I agree with that request (diaspora vote), but we were not able in the time available to have the logistics put in place to implement that objective. We now have five years where we can work on that objective, where we can see whether we can implement it.</blockquote>
Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn leader Simba Makoni was critical of Mnangagwa’s response saying that the Constitution obliges him and his administration to implement diaspora voting. Makoni said that Mnangagwa should not make it seem like he is doing diasporans a favour. Speaking to NewsDay, Makoni said,
<blockquote>He is obliged by the Constitution to create the necessary conditions that allow all Zimbabweans wherever they are to exercise their right to vote…There is no need to wait for five years because there will be by-elections and Mnangagwa should make sure those in the diaspora take part. We will be watching him.</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2018/09/opposition-cautious-on-eds-diaspora-vote-offer/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">NewsDay</a>

I Agree With Diaspora Vote, We Now Have 5 Years To Try To Implement It - Mnangagwa

President Emmerson Mnangagwa met with fellow citizens in New York, Sunday, ahead of UNGA. Mnangagwa addressed the diaspora vote, corruption, land reform and other issues of concern to the diaspora.
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Video: President Mnangagwa Meets The Zimbabwean Diaspora In New York

Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi has ruled out the diaspora vote in this year’s elections arguing that the Constitution does not allow Zimbabweans living in foreign countries to vote in those countries.
In an interview with The Chronicle, Ziyambi argues that while the Constitution recognises the right to vote for every Zimbabwean, Section 92 states that only those registered in the country can vote. He also argues that there is no provision for a diaspora constituency in the Constitution. Said Ziyambi Ziyambi:
<blockquote>If you look at the Constitution it has no provision that is expressed which gives the Diaspora the right to vote but the constitution in Section 92 explains that those that vote must have been registered within Zimbabwe. The argument that has been given is that other constitutions which are comparable to ours allow it, which is correct. But in our constitution there is absence of reference to citizens who reside outside the country, it’s not there and you can contrast it with section 92 of the Kenyan constitution which states that ‘Parliament shall enact legislation to provide for the progressive registration of citizens residing outside Kenya and the progressive realisation of their right to vote.</blockquote>
More: <a href="http://www.chronicle.co.zw/govt-rules-out-diaspora-vote-minister-says-it-is-not-provided-for-in-the-constitution/">Chronicle</a>

Zim Constitution Does Not Provide For Diaspora Vote: Ziyambi Ziyambi

The details of a 2013 ruling by the Constitutional Court were availed this week under Judgement Number 12 of 2017. In 2013 South Africa-based truck driver Mr Tavengwa Bukaibenyu filed a constitutional application in 2013 challenging the validity of Sections 23(3) and 71 of the Electoral Act.
He was challenging the validity of Section 23(3) of the Electoral Act, which removes from the voters’ roll, names of those who spend at least 12 consecutive months outside their constituencies and Section 71 of the same Act, which limits the right to postal voting only to people sent outside the country on Government business and their spouses.However, the Constitutional Court defended the two sections of the Electoral Act and stated that postal vote is only reserved for individuals on Government duty.  It also ruled that it is justifiable for a person’s name to be removed from the voters’ role of a constituency after 12 months. Part of the judgement authored by Chief Justice Luke Malaba reads:
<blockquote>The Constitution did not place an obligation upon the State to make arrangements for voters, who for personal reasons, were unable to attend at the polling stations to vote…
Section 23(3) required that a voter be resident in the constituency in which he or she was to vote for purposes of being qualified for registration on the voters roll for that constituency.
If the voter became absent from constituency in which he or she was registered as a voter for a continuous period of 12 months, his or her name had to be removed from the voters’ roll of that constituency.</blockquote>
More: <a href="http://www.herald.co.zw/concourt-says-no-to-diaspora-vote/">Herald</a>

Constitutional Court says no to Diaspora Vote, defends Electoral Act

A group of Zimbabweans based in the United Kingdom signed a petition under the banner of Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation (ZHRO) and handed it to British Prime Minister Theresa May’s government, demanding that they be allowed to vote in next year’s elections from their host nations.
A protestor, Kingstone Jambawo appealed to other Zimbabweans to join in the protests. Zimbabweans in the diaspora are entitled to vote by the 2013 Constitution but Registrar-General Tobaiwa Mudede recently threatened not to align the provision, with the provisions of the Electoral Act. Currently, Zimbabwe, through the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, affords civil servants serving on foreign missions a right to vote, while those living and working abroad are denied the same right.
More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2017/05/22/diasporans-petition-uk-pm-theresa-may-zim-election/">NewsDay</a>

Zimbabweans based in the UK deliver petition demanding to be allowed to vote from their host nations

Build Zimbabwe President Dr Noah Manyika says that Zimbabweans in the Diaspora should be allowed to vote, so that they can feel easy about investing in Zimbabwe.
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Video: Dr Noah Manyika says Diaspora should be allowed to vote as an incentive to invest

The <a href="http://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Electoral_Commission">Zimbabwe Electoral Commission</a> has confirmed that unless the Electoral Act is ammended, non-resident Zimbabweans will not be voting in the 2018 presidential elections and will only have to come back home to do so.
The announcement by ZEC comes at a time when opposition parties have been staging protests demanding electoral reforms, including enabling non-resident Zimbabweans to vote from their countries of residency. Addressing journalists in Harare on Tuesday, ZEC chairperson <a href="http://www.pindula.co.zw/Rita_Makarau">Rita Makarau</a> said without amendment of the Electoral Act, citizens living outside the country would need to come back home to cast their vote on election day.
She also said all government staff working outside and at Zimbabwean embassies would have to return home and present their bio-metrics to ZEC for them to be able to vote. However most of the Zimbabweans living in the diaspora do not possess proper documentation which makes it a risk for them to come back to Zimbabwe.
More: <a href="http://www.newzimbabwe.com/news-33274-Diasporans+can%E2%80%99t+vote+in+2018,+ZEC+confirms/news.aspx">NewZimbabwe.com</a>

Zec says diasporans cannot vote in 2018 unless they come back home

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