Civil Engineer: Contract (Hwange)

Auto Electrician (Hwange)

Attachee: Sales and Marketing (Harare)

Planning Officer (Bulawayo)

Receptionist (Harare)

Semi-Skilled Cook (Chipinge)

IT Officer

Human Resources Officer

Stores Assistant

Project Coordinator

Graduate Trainee: Agronomy (Chisumbanje)

Estimator – Auto Body Centre Harare

Apprenticeship Trainee- Millwright

Graduate Trainee Program (Traineeship)

Students On Attachment (Various Departments)

Information Technology Graduate Trainee (Chisumbanje)

Counselor

Field Officer

Project Driver (Hwange)

Registered General Nurse (RGN) (Harare)

Intensive Care Nurse (ICN) (Harare)

Sales Agents x50

Tobacco Programmes Officer (Harare)

Payroll Clerk (Harare)

Merchant Services Manager (Harare)

Library Technical Assistant

Assistant Binder

Broadcast Technician

Research, Innovation and Industry Linkage Officer (RIILO)

Safety, Health and Environmental (SHE) Officer

Procurement Officer

Intellectual Property Management Officer

Research Officers x2

Business Development Officers x2

Innovation Lead (Engineering)

Innovation Lead (Arts & Creative Industries)

Innovation Manager

Public Health Specialist: Prevention, Care & Treatment (Harare)

Driver (Kariba)

Relief Drivers x8

Business Intelligence Analyst (Harare)

Contact Centre Agent-1 (Harare)

Switchboard Operator (OMAO) (Harare)

Procurement Manager (Bulawayo)

Auditor - ICT & Internal Control (Harare)

Legal Officer (Harare)

Auditor (Harare)

Director General (Harare)

The High Court will sit on Wednesday to address the issue of urgency in an application by CCC to compel the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to furnish the opposition party with the final voters’ roll.
This was confirmed by CCC lawyer Doug Coltart to <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2023-elections/article/200015390/ccc-voters-roll-case-set-down-tomorrow-morning">NewsDay</a> on Tuesday. He said:
<blockquote>
The Voters’ roll case has been set down tomorrow morning at 9:30 am to address the judge on the question of urgency.
</blockquote>
On August 10, 2023, the Nelson Chamisa-led party wrote a letter to ZEC, demanding an updated voters’ roll and a comprehensive list of polling stations.
CCC expressed concerns about discrepancies in the voters’ roll and the list of polling stations for the upcoming elections.
They highlighted issues such as abbreviated and altered polling station names, inconsistencies in ward allocation, and changes in the number of polling stations.
They urgently demanded an updated voters’ roll that adheres to the Electoral Act, including all polling stations, accurate names, and correct ward allocations.
The party said failure to address these concerns within 48 hours may result in legal action, jeopardising the integrity of the electoral process.
This was after ZEC last week released 12,370 preliminary polling stations for the upcoming harmonised elections set for August 23.
This represents an increment of 869 polling stations compared to the previous announcement on July 2, which indicated a total of 11,501 polling stations.
CCC and other stakeholders voiced concerns over ZEC’s choice to withhold the publication of the polling station codes.
CCC eventually took legal action by approaching the High Court. In their comprehensive 46-page court application, they explicitly requested that ZEC fulfills its legal obligation by releasing the voters’ roll.
On Monday, High Court Judge Justice Never Chitiyo ruled that the application was not urgent.
Zimbabwe holds its general elections on Wednesday, 23 August 2023.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

CCC Voters' Roll Case Set Down For 16 August

Harare East MP, Tendai Biti (CCC), has described the voters’ roll availed by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) as a “crime scene” demanding an urgent national audit by all political parties.
Biti said the current voters’ roll cannot be used to conduct a credible election.
He was commenting on a tweet by Team Pachedu, who had alleged that there are more than 10 000 national identity numbers (IDs) on the 2023 voters’ roll that were previously used by completely different people during the 2002-2008 elections. <a href="https://twitter.com/BitiTendai/status/1683481144547844096?s=20">Said Biti</a>:
<blockquote>
The current voters’ roll is not fit for a burial society election. It is a crime scene.
There must be an urgent national audit of this roll signed off by all political parties.
Zimbabwe cannot be led into an occult travesty masquerading as an election. 23 August must be a real election.
</blockquote>
Some CCC candidates recently claimed that the voters’ roll is not searchable nor analysable saying it is in small font and in PDF format which does not allow a comprehensive search.
However, ZEC chief elections officer Utloile Silaigwana said that the voters’ roll met the provision of the Electoral Act and was searchable and analysable.
He said the Electoral Act “permits the commission to format the voters’ roll to prevent it from being altered or tampered with”.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Current Voters' Roll A "Crime Scene", Says Biti

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has rubbished claims by opposition candidates that the voters’ roll is not searchable and analysable.
In a statement issued on Sunday, ZEC chief elections officer Utloile Silaigwana said that the voters’ roll met the provision of the Electoral Act and was searchable and analysable.
He said the Electoral Act “permits the commission to format the voters’ roll to prevent it from being altered or tampered with”. Said Silaigwana:
<blockquote>
It is for this reason that ZEC has issued the voters’ roll in its current format.
There is nowhere in the Act where it is stated that the roll should be in Excel or printable formats known to have compromised security features.
The voters’ roll issued out to candidates has columns for the voter’s surname, forename, ID number, gender, date of birth, voter’s address, polling station, ward, local authority, constituency, district and province as prescribed in Section 20(2) of the Electoral Act.
</blockquote>
He encouraged ordinary voters without access to the electronic voters’ roll to dial the USSD Code *265# on their mobile phones to ascertain their registration status and polling station. Added the Silaigwana:
<blockquote>
The commission would like to urge all stakeholders with queries on the voters’ roll or any other electoral issue to approach the commission for clarification.
They should desist from casting aspersions on the voters’ roll and other electoral processes as this may affect voter turnout and discredit the polls.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Voters' Roll Is Searchable And Analysable - ZEC

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has said all National Assembly and local authority election candidates will receive copies of the voters’ roll by Thursday this week.
According to ZEC, candidates will only receive voters’ rolls specific to the areas they will be contesting.
ZEC chief elections officer Utloile Silaigwana told <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/localised-voters-roll-out-thursday">The Sunday Mail</a> that presidential candidates received copies of the national voters’ roll on 11 July. He said:
<blockquote>
The commission has already issued copies of the national voters’ roll to Presidential candidates at the national Multi-Party Liaison Committee meeting held on July 11, 2023.
Candidates for the National Assembly and local authorities are likely to receive their copies on or before July 20, 2023.
</blockquote>
Silaigwana said the processing of applications for postal voting, 17 869 in total, was underway after the window for applications closed on 5 July.
Postal voting is only for registered voters who will be unable to vote at their polling stations on election day because they will be on official duty.
The process is open to those who apply not more than 14 days after sitting of the Nomination Court.
Successful applicants will get their voting material and will be required to send their votes in sealed envelopes to the chief elections officer at least 14 days before polling day.
The chief elections officer will then distribute the postal votes to the voters’ respective constituencies within seven days of the date of the actual poll.
The postal votes are later dispatched to their respective ward centres before polling day.
The envelopes are only opened for counting at the ward centre when the counting of votes cast on polling day commences.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

National Assembly, Ward Candidates To Get Voters' Roll By 20 July - ZEC

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has finally released copies of the voters’ roll to presidential candidates, just over a month before the nation goes to the polls on 23 August.
However, ZEC is yet to release the voters’ roll to candidates set to contest in parliamentary and council elections.
Posting on Twitter on Monday, CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere confirmed party presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa received his copy. She wrote:
<blockquote>
After months of demanding, litigating, and exerting political pressure, the [CCC] has finally obtained a copy of the voters’ roll from [ZEC].
We’re yet to receive constituency and ward-based voters’ rolls as stipulated by law. We continue to demand these from [ZEC].
Our elections directorate and technical experts are now analyzing the roll in light of the massive anomalies that came to light during the inspection.
</blockquote>
The election adviser of independent presidential candidate Saviour Kasukuwere, Jaqueline Sande also confirmed receipt of his copy. She tweeted:
<blockquote>
I do confirm that an electronic voter’s roll was handed over to me on behalf of President Saviour Kasukuwere by [ZEC].
</blockquote>
In 2022, a data analysis group, Team Pachedu claimed the voters’ roll had several anomalies.
It said ZEC had illegally moved 170 000 voters from their constituencies and wards and created additional polling stations under unclear circumstances as well as registrants with similar and wrong addresses.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZEC Delivers Voters' Roll To Presidential Election Candidates

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has distanced itself from a post circulating on social media platforms on the number of registered voters.
The post claims that more than 70% of registered voters for the 23 August 2023 general elections are in rural areas.
The post, which features a ZEC logo, claims that the figure was based on data from the commission’s website.
According to the post, 3 801 967 people are registered in rural areas while only 1 976 381 people are in urban areas.
In a statement posted on Twitter, ZEC urged members of the public to disregard the post, saying it did not originate from the electoral management body. <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200013625/zec-disowns-fake-post-on-voter-statistics">It said</a>:
<blockquote>
This post did not emanate from the ZEC office and the commission distances itself from such.
Members of the public are discouraged from abusing the ZEC logo for personal gain.
We urge the public to be wary of such posts and to only rely on information from the ZEC website or from our official social media platforms.
We are committed to ensuring that the upcoming elections are free, fair, and credible.
We urge all eligible voters to register to vote and participate in the elections.
</blockquote>
Critics have expressed doubt over the credibility of the upcoming elections as ZEC has hitherto failed to avail the voters’ roll to candidates for scrutiny.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZEC Disowns Social Media Post On Voter Statistics

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) was on Friday yet to avail copies of the voters’ roll to political parties saying it was still verifying nomination papers for all candidates.
ZEC pledged to give all candidates free copies of the voters’ roll after the sitting of the nominations courts on Wednesday, 21 June 2023.
Speaking in an interview with CITE’s <a href="https://cite.org.zw/zec-says-waiting-for-final-list-of-candidates-before-distributing-voters-roll/">Senzeni Ncube</a>, ZEC chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana, said:
<blockquote>
People were doing the nomination court on Wednesday at the Districts, we haven’t received the list so that we know those who were successful because we said we are going to give those successful for free.
We are at the head office, we don’t know those successful in Lupane because we are still receiving papers, we don’t know those successful in Beitbridge because the process is not over, they will receive it after we are through with the process.
The process is not over; we are yet to know for the whole country, we are talking of more than 2 000 councillors, more than 300 members of Parliament, the process ended yesterday, can we have compiled all that and know who they are, so we are waiting for the papers, we told them that we are going to give them.
</blockquote>
Silaigwana also said ZEC has done a thorough job of cleaning the voters’ before the nomination court processes as there hasn’t been a single aspiring candidate who failed to find their name.
The voters’ roll is a list of all eligible citizens who are registered to vote in an election and contains the names and addresses of all individuals who have registered to vote.
The purpose of the voters’ roll is to ensure that only eligible voters are able to cast their ballots in an election.
It is also used to prevent fraud and other irregularities from occurring during the voting process.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZEC Says To Distribute Voters' Roll After Getting Final List Of Candidates

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) says it is cleaning the voters’ roll of mistakes noted during the inspection period and getting it ready for use in the harmonised elections set for 23 August 2023.
Speaking in an interview with <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/election-nomination-fees-gazetted/">State media</a>, ZEC chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana said the voters’ roll will only be availed to candidates who successfully file their papers with the Nomination Court that sits on 21 June. Said Silaigwana:
<blockquote>
The voters’ roll might be ready [on Sunday, 18 June], that is when we will have the total number of people who registered to vote in the coming elections.
For now, we are just going through the final cleaning of the roll, removing such cases as multiple registrations and other issues that were picked up during the voters’ roll inspection phase.
This is all to ensure that come Wednesday we fulfill our mandate of giving the voters’ roll to everyone that successfully submits their papers to the nomination courts.
</blockquote>
Voter registration remains open but the voters’ roll that will be used in the 23 August elections closed two days after the proclamation of elections by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Voters' Roll Will Only Be Availed To Election Candidates - ZEC

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has said more than one million people physically inspected the voters’ roll during the just-ended inspection, while others have checked their registration status virtually.
ZEC vice chairperson Rodney Kiwa told <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/over-1-million-people-inspect-voters-roll-physically/">The Herald</a> that a total of 529 264 men and 648 062 women participated in the physical inspection of the voters’ roll.
He said ZEC is now working on the final voters’ roll, correcting errors found during the inspection. Said Kiwa:
<blockquote>
We are working on the final voters roll to enable candidate nomination for the August 23 harmonised elections.
In this regard, we are making all the corrections brought to our attention during the inspection.
</blockquote>
Voters across the country including sitting members of Parliament from the opposition say their names are missing from the voters’ roll.
Some of the registered voters whose names are missing from the voters’ roll voted in the March 2022 by-elections.
Earlier, Kiwa said claims that ZEC has deliberately removed the names of opposition members from the voters’ roll are “mischievous and preposterous”. He said:
<blockquote>
The rationale for the voters’ roll inspection is to ensure every registrant is accurately captured on the roll and all corrections made.
To suggest that members of a particular political party are targeted for exclusion is not only mischievous and preposterous as we are fully independent of any political party influence and in fact, when registering people, we do not seek their political alignment, it would be illegal and unethical.
</blockquote>
The Nomination Court will sit on 21 June 2023 to consider and accept candidates for Presidential, Parliamentary and local authority elections.
The Nomination Court will sit at the High Court to consider Presidential candidates while it will sit at all the 10 provincial capitals for parliamentary candidates.
The Nomination Court will sit at all council offices across the country to consider candidates for local authority elections.
The harmonised elections will be held on 23 August 2023 and the presidential election run-off/re-run will be conducted on 02 October 2023 if there is no outright winner with 50%+ of the total votes cast.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Over 1 Million Voters Inspected Voters’ Roll Physically - ZEC

The <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Electoral_Commission/">Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)</a> has announced that the voters’ roll for the upcoming general elections will be available to election candidates at the end of June.
The chief elections officer of ZEC, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Utloile_Silaigwana/">Utloile Silaigwana</a>, made the announcement following the end of the mop-up voter registration exercise on Friday. However, the electoral body has faced criticism from opposition parties and independent election watchdogs for the opaque manner in which it has run the voter registration and verification exercise.
Many people found their names missing from the voters’ roll upon verifying via mobile phone platforms, and others discovered that their names were moved from the polling stations in which they registered. Some have viewed these glitches as part of structural vote rigging.
Silaigwana has assured the public that any anomalies observed during the voters’ roll inspection exercise will be rectified during the final compilation of the voters’ roll. He said:
<blockquote>
The Commission would like to assure members of the public that it will rectify any anomalies that were observed during the voters’ roll inspection exercise. This will be done during the final compilation of the voters’ roll.
</blockquote>
Despite this, there have been concerns about data protection and the risk of electoral fraud. In March, a court application challenging ZEC for access to the electronic voters’ roll was filed by the <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Citizens%27_Coalition_for_Change/">Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC)</a> legislator, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Allan_Markham/">Allan Markham</a>, but the courts ruled against him, citing data protection risks. However, ZANU PF has allegedly sent text messages to registered voters urging them to vote for President Emmerson Mnangagwa, leading to allegations that the party has access to the voters’ roll.
<h2><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

ZEC: Zimbabwe Voters' Roll Available To Candidates By End-June

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) says claims that it has deliberately removed the names of opposition members from the voters’ roll are “mischievous and preposterous”.
In an interview with <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/zec-dismisses-oppositions-frivolous-claims/">The Herald</a> on Wednesday, ZEC vice chairperson Rodney Kiwa said that cannot happen as the electoral body is not affiliated with any political party. He said:
<blockquote>
The rationale for the voters’ roll inspection is to ensure every registrant is accurately captured on the roll and all corrections made.
To suggest that members of a particular political party are targeted for exclusion is not only mischievous and preposterous as we are fully independent of any political party influence and in fact, when registering people, we do not seek their political alignment, it would be illegal and unethical.
</blockquote>
Voters across the country including sitting members of Parliament from the opposition say their names are missing from the voters’ roll.
Some of the registered voters whose names are missing from the voters’ roll voted in the March 2022 by-elections.
Kiwa said there are more people checking the voters’ roll using the ZEC USSD platform *265# than those checking the physical copies in person. He said:
<blockquote>
We are compiling figures from all the inspection centres. My take so far is that registrants were/are using our USSD platform *265# more than they are physically turning up to check.
But let the figures speak for themselves. I should be able to speak authoritatively end of the day Friday.
</blockquote>
ZEC extended the voters’ roll inspection exercise to 01 June 2023. The voters’ roll inspection exercise which commenced on Saturday, was supposed to end on 31 May.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Voters' Roll: ZEC Says Not Targetting Opposition Members For Removal

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has extended the voters’ roll inspection exercise to 01 June 2023.
ZEC opened the voters’ roll for inspection on Saturday and the process was supposed to end on 31 May.
In a statement issued on Monday night, ZEC said the exercise, initially scheduled to end today, would run until Thursday. ZEC said:
<blockquote>
The voters’ roll inspection exercise has been extended to June 1, 2023. ZEC is calling upon members of the public to visit inspection centres where they indicated they will vote at only and not at any inspection centre.
</blockquote>
The voters’ roll inspection exercise was previously scheduled to start on 27 May but logistical challenges delayed the opening of centres across the country.
On Monday, ZEC Chief Elections Officer Utloile Silaigwana sought to assure prospective voters that they will not be disenfranchised amid reports that some names are missing from the voters’ roll while other voters have been transferred to polling stations more than 60km away from their places of residence.
Voters across the country including sitting members of Parliament from the opposition say their names are missing from the voters’ roll.
Some of the registered voters whose names are missing from the voters’ roll voted in the March 2022 by-elections.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZEC Extends Voters' Roll Inspection Deadline To 01 June

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has sought to assure prospective voters that they will not be disenfranchised amid reports that some names are missing from the voters’ roll while other voters have been transferred to polling stations more than 60km away from their places of residence.
ZEC Chief Elections Officer Utloile Silaigwana told State media that ZEC will rectify any anomalies that will be detected during the ongoing voters roll inspection exercise.
ZEC opened the voters’ roll for inspection on Saturday and the process which was supposed to end on 31 May is now ending on 01 June.
The electoral management body said that it has opened more than 11 000 centres countrywide to enable voters who registered on or before 28 April to check their registration details. Said Silaigwana:
<blockquote>
Why does ZEC take the voters’ roll to the people? It is because we want the voters themselves who are the owners of the voters’ roll to audit the roll by checking their names and their details.
They should check whether they are placed in the correct polling station, ward and constituency.
In the event there are anomalies detected by the voters, ZEC will ensure they are corrected.
Perhaps it is very important that the electorate at large and our people in Zimbabwe know that recently we had a very important exercise which is the delimitation exercise.
The latest delimitation exercise was done more than 13 years after the one done between 2007 and 2008.
The demographics have changed, and people have moved. People who voted at Luveve Primary School in the last elections might find themselves at Mafakela Primary School due to the delimitation. I’m just giving an example.
What people should therefore appreciate is that the movement of voters is inevitable due to the delimitation exercise.
Probably some people could have gone to the places where they usually vote but because of the delimitation exercise, they might have been moved.
There is no need for anyone to press a panic button because these anomalies that I’m talking about can be corrected.
Those no longer appearing, if there are such cases, can come to ZEC and complete a form to ensure the anomalies are corrected.
Our mandate is to enfranchise and facilitate the voting of all registered voters hence we will attend to all anomalies identified.
</blockquote>
Silaigwana said the proclamation of the election date by President Emmerson Mnangagwa marks the start of the election period. He said:
<blockquote>
This will be followed by a number of activities. When His Excellency proclaims the date of the election the voters’ roll closes two days after that.
</blockquote>
This means you cannot register for this election two days after the proclamation but you can still register for the next election.
Silaigwana said the proclamation of the election date will be followed by the sitting of the Nomination Court.
After the sitting of the Nomination Court, ZEC will then print the ballot papers, he added.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

No Need To Panic Over Voters' Roll Anomalies - ZEC

The opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) party has written to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) requesting a thorough investigation into anomalies found in the voters’ roll during the ongoing voters’ roll inspection exercise.
Voters across the country including sitting members of Parliament from the opposition say their names are missing from the voters’ roll.
Some of the registered voters whose names are missing from the voters’ roll voted in the March 2022 by-elections.
In a letter dated 29 May, addressed to ZEC chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba, CCC secretary for elections Ian Makone demanded investigations into the matter. Makone wrote:
<blockquote>
We have noted serious anomalies in the voters’ roll that has been laid out for inspection by the public.
For example, in Ward 25 in the Gokwe Nembudziya constituency — all surnames starting from A to Mu are missing from the ward voters’ roll.
Registered voters who have been appearing on the biometric voters roll online inspection platform are suddenly missing their names from the current online platforms and the voters roll under inspection seems not to be synchronised with the new delimitation boundaries.
Resultantly, prospective voters have been displaced from their wards of residence.
</blockquote>
Speaking to <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200012262/names-vanish-from-voters-roll">NewsDay</a>, Election Resource Centre (ERC) programmes manager Solomon Bobosibunu said:
<blockquote>
Two people who spoke to me from Buhera Central had their names transferred to centres that are 23km and 65km away.
The voters’ roll has been tampered with and cannot, therefore, be trusted to deliver a credible election in its current rushed format.
A credible voters’ roll is just but one of the critical components of ballot eligibility.
If its integrity is highly compromised like what we are seeing now, then the election is better off shelved.
It has remained a secret to the rest of Zimbabweans and its rotten state is now smelling.
Zimbabweans must decide if they want to continue with Zec’s dark and underhand dealings.
</blockquote>
Contacted for comment by NewsDay, ZEC chief elections Officer Utoile Silaigwana said:
<blockquote>
What I want you to understand is that the purpose of the inspection of the voters’ roll is to check if ever there are mistakes in terms of names etc, then if there is a query then that query should be registered so that it can be corrected.
</blockquote>
In a related development, Presidential spokesperson George Charamba said that President Emmerson Mnangagwa is expected to proclaim the election date in due course.
Stade media reports over the weekend had indicated that Mnangagwa would proclaim the election date on either Sunday or Monday but this did not happen.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

CCC Demands ZEC Investigates Names Missing From Voters' Roll

Some registered voters including opposition legislators say their names are missing from the voters’ roll.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) started a voters’ roll inspection exercise on Saturday and since then, some registered voters who checked their documents to ensure that their details are in order were shocked to find their names missing.
The voters’ roll inspection ends on 31 May but ZEC Chief Elections Officer <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2023/05/27/voters-roll-inspection-may-be-delayed-at-some-centres-zec/">Utloile Silaigwana on Saturday said ZEC may consider allowing voters in areas where inspection centres</a> were anticipated to start operating late to inspect the voters’ roll on 01 June.
Bulawayo Central proportional representation Member of Parliament Jasmine Toffa (CCC) told <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200012262/names-vanish-from-voters-roll">NewsDay</a> that her name is missing on the voters’ roll. She said:
<blockquote>
Two weeks ago, I dialled *265# to check my name and it reflected. I took a screenshot and kept it.
Yesterday I decided to check again and I saw that my name was no longer there. I went to do a physical check and my name was not there.
I found a number of people queuing there who had the same challenges. ZEC officials said they are facing technical difficulties, and I don’t understand how something that is on the computer does not print out on a hard copy.
</blockquote>
Another Bulawayo proportional representation MP Nicola Watson said her name was missing. She said:
<blockquote>
Bulawayo councillor Edwin Ndlovu’s name was also missing. This is unacceptable as the magnitude of error is extremely high. Most people don’t even know where to check their names.
</blockquote>
Prominent Bulawayo-based journalist Zenzele Ndebele also said he could not locate his name in the voters’ roll. He tweeted:
<blockquote>
I have checked my name and can confirm that it is not on the voters’ roll. And the four guys who came when I was there were also not on the voters’ roll.
</blockquote>
Contacted for comment by NewsDay, ZEC chief elections Officer Utoile Silaigwana said:
<blockquote>
What I want you to understand is that the purpose of the inspection of the voters’ roll is to check if ever there are mistakes in terms of names etc, then if there is a query then that query should be registered so that it can be corrected.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, voter registration is ongoing at the usual centres across the country. The voters’ roll will be closed for registration two days after President Emmerson Mnangagwa has proclaimed the election date.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Voters Worried As Names Vanish From Voters' Roll

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has advised prospective voters that some voters’ roll inspection centres may start operating much later than the anticipated time this Saturday.
In a statement issued this Saturday, ZEC Chief Elections Officer Utloile Silaigwana said the delays are a result of “logistical and other unforeseen challenges”.
He said ZEC may consider allowing voters in affected areas to inspect the voters’ roll on 01 June. Said Silaigwana:
<blockquote>
Owing to logistical and other unforeseen challenges, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission would like to inform members of the public that some voters’ roll inspection centres may start operating much later than the anticipated time on 27 May 2023.
The Commission may consider extending this exercise scheduled to end on 31 May 2023 by a day in affected areas.
</blockquote>
Speaking to <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200012012/no-voter-registration-at-inspection-centres-zec">NewsDay</a> on Wednesday, Silaigwana said voter registration is still ongoing at the usual centres. He said:
<blockquote>
Voter registration has not yet been closed. However, members of the public will not be able to register as voters at the polling stations.
They will be just inspecting the roll. Registration will be at the usual. There is no registration at all at the inspection centres.
We are extending our work. We are doing it for the benefit of the public, as an administrative matter.
We are doing like what we do with the voter registration blitz to bring the centres to the people.
It’s an administrative decision that we have taken to bring the centres to the people, otherwise, individuals can inspect the roll anytime, according to the law.
</blockquote>
Silaigwana said the voters’ roll will be closed for registration two days after President Emmerson Mnangagwa has proclaimed the election date.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Voters' Roll Inspection May Be Delayed At Some Centres - ZEC

The Election Resource Centre (ERC) has accused the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of violating the Constitution by failing to publish the voters’ roll ostensibly to protect voters’ data in accordance with the Data Protection Act.
This comes after High Court judge Justice Never Katiyo rejected an application by Harare North MP, Allan Markham, who sought the court to compel ZEC to release the voters’ roll.
He said the release of the electronic voters’ roll would expose the document to manipulation.
But in a statement issued on Wednesday, ERC said ZEC’s reasons for withholding the Voters’ Roll were unconstitutional and will affect the credibility of the elections. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
The ERC notes the statement made by the ZEC Chairperson Honourable Chigumba in Parliament on 5 April 2023.
The Chairperson is quoted stating that the Electoral Commission is unable to publish the voters’ roll as it has the responsibility to protect the data of voters in accordance with the Data Protection Act.
While the Data Protection Act is there to provide for data protection with due regard to the Declaration of Rights under the Constitution, the act also addresses the protection of data in terms of public and national interest.
Section 11 (5) (h) of the Data Protection Act states that the data controller (ZEC in this instance) shall process sensitive data if, “the processing of data is authorised by a law or any regulation for any other reason constituting substantial public interest.”
Section 21 (3) of the Electoral Act legally authorises the Commission to within a reasonable period of time provide any person who requests it, and who pays the prescribed fee a copy of any voters’ roll either in printed or in electronic form as the person may request.
Therefore, ZEC is legally obligated by the Electoral Act read in line with the Data Protection Act to avail the voters’ roll data, especially as it constitutes substantial public interest as the roll is necessary for electoral participation and the realisation of political rights as envisaged by the Constitution.
The continued denial of the voters’ roll especially, to persons with a legitimate interest in the voters’ roll and free and fair elections, such as political parties, candidates and CSOs under the guise of data protection is unlawful and detrimental to the credibility of the 2023 Harmonised Elections.
The ERC repeats its calls, that the voters’ roll should be made public, as the credibility and validity of the delimitation process and the 2023 Harmonised Elections are dependent on it.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ERC Criticises ZEC For Refusing To Release Voters' Roll

Opposition MP Allan “Rusty” Markham, who took the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to court demanding that it releases the electronic Voters’ Roll but lost, has said he disagrees with the ruling by the High Court.
Justice Never Katiyo sitting at the Harare High Court ruled that the application by Markham was premature.
In a statement issued on Thursday, 09 March 2023, Markham said he has instructed his lawyers to file an appeal. Pindula News is publishing Markham’s statement below:
<blockquote>
On the 7th of March 2023, the High Court heard and decided my application for the provision, forthwith, of a consolidated national voters roll in electronic form by the ZEC.
The court dismissed the application. The operative part of the court’s judgment delivered ex-tempore read that:
“This case lacks merit, is prematurely before the courts and that (sic) ZEC should make sure that it protects voters roll into consideration the Cyber and Data Protection Act”.
The background of the application is as follows: –
After analyzing the voters’ roll as at 1st February 2022, I noted a number of material breaches of the Electoral Act, and a direct failure by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to fulfill its obligations regarding the voters’ roll.
I therefore, on 27th July 2022, through my legal practitioners, wrote a detailed letter to Zimbabwe Electoral Commission outlining these breaches and demanding they rectify them.
The ZEC responded on 19th August 2022. It advised that it was in the process of producing an updated voters roll which would take into account some of the queries I had raised and implored that I wait for the new roll to establish whether there was still a need to pursue the queries.
On 9th October 2022, I made a follow-up, and on 20th of October, was advised that the roll was ready.
However, ZEC advised that it could, within thirty (30) days of the payment of the US$187,000.00 fee, only provide me with a hard copy of the consolidated national voters roll.
It could not provide me with an electronic roll as “it was currently working on enhancing the security of the electronic voters roll“. It undertook to avail the electronic roll on a platform at a date to be advised.
I disagreed with the ZEC’s proposal to delay the provision of the voters’ roll in electronic form to me for an open-ended period.
This is because the Electoral Act gives citizens a choice to get the voters’ roll either in hard copy or electronic form and the ZEC is obliged to provide it in the form requested.
The electronic voters’ roll of my choice should have been provided in a searchable and analysable form within a reasonable time.
My choice to get the voters roll in an electronic form was instructed by among other things the fact that the electronic roll is easy to analyze and review compared to the bulky hard copy (more than 187 000 pages) and that it costs an affordable US$200 as opposed to the expensive and prohibitive US$187,000.00.
A lot of money is spent on the preparation of the voters’ roll. Citizens must have an opportunity to satisfy themselves that it has integrity.
With a total of over 185 000 pages containing more than 35 million words, no person can carry out an integrity analysis of a physical copy even if they dedicate a decade of their lives to it. Let alone compare it with earlier versions.
The provision of an electronic copy is not only financially cheaper, but it is the best chance at an effective search and analysis of this important document.
At the time of my request, apart from the need to follow up on the original queries, there was an urgent need on my part to review and analyze the voters’ roll for the purpose of contributing to the public consultations regarding delimitation which was ongoing.
The failure by ZEC to indicate a time within which the electronic roll was to be provided was unreasonable and tantamount to a refusal.
I therefore, on the 2nd of November 2022, gave ZEC an ultimatum that they either provide me with an electronic voters roll within seven (7) days, or I will approach the court.
They did not respond to my letter. I accordingly instituted the application on 23rd November 2022.
At the time of the hearing, a period of 145 days had lapsed since my request and Zimbabwe Electoral Commission had not indicated when they will be able to provide the roll.
The ZEC has no right to do anything or make any discretionary decisions that will lead to my right to get an electronic roll negated.
If the ZEC decides to format the roll for protection against alteration and tampering, it must know what this process entails and communicate to me how long it will take, and when thereafter it will be able to provide the electronic roll to me.
The ZEC cannot adopt a course where it says, we intend to format the roll but have no idea how to achieve it and how long it will take us to do so, so go home, wait until we figure out how this is going to happen.
If this is a good excuse now, it can be a good excuse, with disastrous consequences, on the eve of an election.
As the voters’ roll can legally be supplied without being formatted, the decision by the ZEC to try and format it, cannot justify their refusal to provide the roll.
The process of securing the electronic roll against alteration and tampering must neither delay nor negate my right to receive the roll in an electronic form.
The alleged fear of alteration or tampering of an electronic roll given to me, is to me irrational, considering ZEC retain the original “master” copy of the roll on their system and in physical form.
I disagree with the court’s reasoning that we approached it prematurely. Once the ZEC refused to provide the electronic roll and or indicate when it was going to do so, we were entitled to seek redress from the courts.
I disagree with the court that a period of 145 days which has lapsed since my request, is a reasonable time to keep a citizen waiting for a roll that is already available.
The very failure by the ZEC on the date of the request to indicate when it was to provide the voters roll in electronic form was unreasonable and amounted to a refusal to give me the roll which should have moved the court to order its provision.
I disagree with the court that the tweets by ‘Team Pachedu’, which were made well after our request for the voters’ roll and its rejection by the ZEC, are proof that the electronic voters’ roll was tampered with, nor that they justify the ZEC’s refusal to release the electronic roll to me.
These tweets were irrelevant and should not have been considered as they came after my demand, some even came after I had already filed the application.
If a genuine case of alteration and tampering had occurred the ZEC would have shown proof of their police report and the alleged perpetrators would have been facing prosecution.
I have instructed my lawyers to file an appeal and hope to get the necessary redress from the superior court.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Allan Markham (MP) Set To Appeal High Court Ruling On Electronic Voters' Roll

The High Court has turned down an application by Citizens Coalition for Change MP, Allan Markham, to compel the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to give him a copy of the electronic voters’ roll that he requested last year, reported <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/court-rejects-mps-challenge-for-release-of-electronic-voters-roll/">ZimLive</a>.
Makharm said that he wanted the voters’ roll to track trends in the delimitation report and also, as a sitting legislator, his interest in the document was pertinent.
He also said an electronic copy was ideal as a printed one would be inconvenient and too expensive for him.
In response, ZEC said the release of the electronic voters’ roll would expose the document to manipulation.
In his ruling, Justice Never Katiyo sitting at the Harare High Court said the application was premature.
The judge urged Makharm to pursue other remedies than suing the commission. He said:
<blockquote>
Applicant said he wanted an electronic voters roll; further applicant qualifies as a person to get that voters roll. He argues hard copy is tantamount to giving him a mountain.
Courts are there to protect citizens as mandated, judicial officers that they discharge the duty without fear or favour.
The law gives ZEC control over the voters’ roll. This was done with a purpose in mind that in this time, with social media, can brew disaster hence mandating ZEC to ensure the security of the electronic voters roll is secure.
It is wise that it (the voters’ roll) is guarded jealously so that it’s given to individuals when it’s right.
The 58 days which have lapsed since this application was launched cannot be said to be too long and taking into consideration that this case came to court prematurely.
It is his (Makharm’s) right to request but in the same vein, ZEC is obliged to speedily come out with a voters roll with all security features.
</blockquote>
Justice Katiyo said full reasons will be provided in due course.
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