ZEC voter registration supervisors to be granted commissioner of oaths status

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) says it has engaged the Ministry of Home Affairs to grant voter registration supervisors commissioner of oaths status to assist people without proof of residence documents at registration centres.

Said Makarau:

We have also observed that, mainly in the rural areas, we do not have any challenges relating to proof of residence and that the issue of commissioners of oaths is an issue we need to address mainly for our urban registrants, and it is an issue that we are already addressing. We have been in touch with the Ministry of Home Affairs. We have requested them to grant our voter registration supervisors commissioner of oaths status just for this exercise so that we may make it easy for people who may not have documents to prove their residency in the urban areas.

However political parties have called on ZEC to do away with proof of residence. As at October 25, 2017, about 24 130 individuals had been turned away at ZEC’s 2 075 centres countrywide. The second phase of voter registration which began yesterday will run until November 13, while the third segment will take place between November 16 and December 1. The last leg will run from December 4 to December 19.

More: Herald