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The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) says it is in the process of removing a total of 4 562 dead people from the voters’ roll.
In an extra-ordinary Government gazette General Notice 193 of 2024 published on 09 February 2024, ZEC Chief Elections Officer Utloile Silaigwana said the names of people appearing on the schedule will be removed from the voters’ roll unless a notice of appeal is given to ZEC within seven days. Reads the notice:
<blockquote>
It is hereby notified, in terms of section 33(4) read with Section 27(1) of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13], that voter registration officers have reason to believe that the persons whose names are listed in the First Schedule, and who were registered as voters for the constituencies, wards and polling stations listed therein have died.
The names of those persons will be removed from the voters’ roll unless notice of appeal is given to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.
By means of this notice, notification is made to any voter on the First Schedule who may be alive to lodge an objection at the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Mahachi Quantum, 1, Nelson Mandela Avenue, corner Kaguvi Street and Jason Moyo Avenue, Harare, and at the respective Commission Provincial Offices, to the inclusion of his or her name in the First Schedule using the form prescribed in the Second Schedule no later than seven (7) days from the date of publication of this notice.
</blockquote>
Identity cards are supposed to be surrendered to the authorities when a death is reported and ZEC then removes dead voters from the roll as data from the Registrar-General is made available from the lists of people who have been certified as dead.
In the past, critics have accused ZEC of facilitating vote rigging whereby some people vote using identity particulars belonging to a dead person whom they might physically resemble.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

ZEC Removes 4 562 Dead People From The Voters’ Roll

The Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) candidate for Mabvuku-Tafara in the 09 December 2023 by-elections, Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi has approached the High Court seeking to compel the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to give him a polling station-based voters’ roll for the constituency.
This was confirmed by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) in a statement posted on X. It said:
<blockquote>
At Harare High Court, we have challenged ZEC’s refusal to furnish Mabvuku-Tafara parliamentary candidate Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi for next month’s by-elections, with a polling station-based voters’ roll.
In an urgent court application filed by our lawyer Obey Shava, we asked the High Court to compel ZEC to release and hand over the voters’ roll to Kufahakutizwi within 48 hours.
Our court challenge came after numerous attempts seeking the release of the voters’ roll by Kufahakutizwi, one of the participating candidates in next month’s by-elections, were turned down by ZEC.
</blockquote>
By-elections will be held in Beitbridge West, Binga North, Bulawayo South, Cowdray Park, Lobengula-Magwegwe, Lupane East, Mabvuku-Tafara, Mpopoma-Mzilikazi and Nketa constituencies.
CCC won all the nine constituencies in the 23-24 August 2023 general elections. But in October, CCC activist <a href="https://pindula.co.zw/Sengezo_Tshabangu">Sengezo Tshabangu</a> recalled the legislators after declaring himself the party’s interim secretary general.
Tshabangu subsequently recalled more MPs and councillors and the number of CCC representatives he has recalled to date stands at 27 MPs, 14 senators, and 69 councillors.
Meanwhile, Tshabangu has since filed an urgent High Court application seeking to bar recalled CCC legislators and councillors who successfully filed their nomination papers to contest in the 09 December by-elections.
Tshabangu, through his lawyer Advocate Lewis Uriri, argued that the recalled CCC members had ceased to be members of CCC and therefore could not represent the same party in the by-elections.
However, in July 2023, the High Court dismissed an appeal by CCC against <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2023/06/26/ccc-sues-41-fraudulent-candidates/">forty-one (41) individuals who fraudulently filed nomination papers as members of the party.</a>
The CCC claimed that 20 of the “fraudsters” filed nomination papers for National Assembly seats while the other 21 individuals filed for local authority seats.
High Court Judge Justice Neville Wamambo dismissed the appeal application saying the papers had nothing suspicious.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/2023/11/18/president-mnangagwa-reverses-the-appointment-of-general-valerio-sibanda-to-zanu-pf-politburo/">Pindula News</a>

ZEC Refuses To Give CCC Mabvuku-Tafara Candidate Polling Station-based Voters' Roll

The Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence (WALPE) has claimed that some voters’ rolls appeared at the wrong polling stations in last week’s Harmonised General Elections.
In a statement on Monday, 28 August, WALPE said voters faced several challenges including delays in the opening of polling stations mainly in urban areas, and intimidation in rural areas. <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200015928/gokwe-kwekwe-voters-rolls-found-in-chitown">It said</a>:
<blockquote>
The Gokwe and Kwekwe voters’ rolls were found in Chitungwiza, Unit L. However, they (ZEC) have not indicated what they will do with regard to the issue of the mix-up of candidates on ballot papers.
The Gokwe and Kwekwe voters rolls that were in Chitungwiza Unit L, the issue of the wrong ballot papers that were used in Dangamvura and the issue of using postal ballots in Chitungwiza, St Mary’s.
</blockquote>
WALPE also noted that some voters travelled from the polling stations where they were queuing to stations they were told their names might appear. It said:
<blockquote>
Methodist Church in Ward 8, Dangamvura was using the wrong ballot papers since morning. They used ballot papers for Ward 11.
The mistake was realised at 4 pm, moreover, as of 7 pm polling stations in areas such as Warren Park, Nyanga South and Glen Norah were yet to open.
</blockquote>
The women’s advocacy group said there were instances where candidates appeared next to the wrong political party logo, causing confusion to the voter.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

"Gokwe, Kwekwe Voters' Rolls Found In Chitungwiza"

Serious concerns have been raised regarding potential deliberate tampering with the voters’ roll in order to manipulate the outcome of the forthcoming Zimbabwean election. These anomalies have raised suspicions of a systematic effort to rig the electoral process.
Tendai and his wife, who reside in Kadoma, have been assigned to different polling stations despite living under the same roof. Such irregularities have led to suspicions in a nation where disputed votes have been a recurring issue under the rule of Zanu-PF since independence in 1980. Tendai, who supports the opposition and preferred to use a pseudonym because of safety concerns said:
<blockquote>
I’ll go my way, she’ll go her way — it’s the new abnormal.
</blockquote>
Civil society group Team Pachedu has conducted an analysis of the voters’ roll, which has uncovered several irregularities. One significant finding is the recycling of identification numbers, with thousands of IDs linked to individuals in the 2013 elections now associated with different names in 2023. Strange patterns, such as deceased individuals, duplicate registrations, and a high concentration of voters in a small area, have also been observed.
Many voters, like Tendai, have experienced changes in their assigned polling locations. Former education minister, David Coltart is among individuals whose names were moved to a polling station further away from where he lives. Coltart said:
<blockquote>
[This] is hugely problematic, particularly in rural areas where people don’t have access to the internet and don’t have decent means of transport. There’s no doubt that Zanu-PF and Mnangagwa pulled out all the stops to do everything possible to prevent Chamisa and the ‘Triple  C’ from winning. But the question still remains whether it’s going to be sufficient.
</blockquote>
This issue emerged in May when the voters’ roll was made available for inspection, revealing that names had been removed or misplaced. 
Activists are concerned that these anomalies could have a decisive impact on the election outcome. President Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zanu-PF and opposition leader Nelson Chamisa of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) are expected to face off in a rematch. The previous election in 2018 was marred by disputes, but Mnangagwa emerged as the winner.
International observers, including missions from the European Union, the Commonwealth, and the African Union, have been invited to monitor the election.
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

Voters' Roll Anomalies Raise Suspicions Of Rigging In Zimbabwe's 2023 Election

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 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) 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) 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

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

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Priscilla_Chigumba">Priscilla Chigumba</a> on Wednesday told Parliament that the electoral body has registered nearly six million voters for this year’s general elections.
Chigumba appeared before the joint Thematic Committee on Peace and Security and the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice yesterday.
She said ZEC was still conducting the biometric voter registration exercise, which will end two days after the proclamation of the election date. <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200009794/6-million-on-voters-roll-zec">NewsDay</a> quoted Chigumba as saying:
<blockquote>
Voter registration will continue in all the districts until two days after the proclamation. To date, nearly six million voters have been registered.
The commission will only announce the number of voters who will be eligible to vote once the process is done.
The commission is making strides to ensure that elections will be conducted peacefully in an environment that ensures that the will of the electorate is realised.
The commission is satisfied that its preparations are well on course and is ready to discharge its mandate in accordance with the law.
</blockquote>
On allegations of leaking voters’ phone numbers to ZANU PF, Chigumba said, “We have to protect the data of our voters in accordance with the Data Protection Act.
Voters in various districts are receiving messages praising the government’s work and signed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The texts were personalised to include the name of the recipients’ district — and signed “President ED Mnangagwa”.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZEC Has Registered Nearly Six Million Voters - Chigumba

Large numbers of aspiring voters visited some Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) mobile biometric voter registration centres across the country on Sunday ahead of the 2023 general elections, reported <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200008743/aspiring-voters-flood-zec-centres">NewsDay</a>.
ZEC started its final voter registration blitz on Sunday, with the programme set to end on 21 March 2023.
Project Vote 263 chairperson Alan Chipoyi said their coordinators noted delays by ZEC officials in some places. Said Chipoyi:
<blockquote>
People are coming out in numbers to register to vote in Budiriro for instance, but it appears there are delays at the ZEC offices.
We have coordinators across the countries reporting similar problems where registrants are waiting at the ZEC mobile centres for a while before they get service.
But ZEC educating officers are doing a sterling job of providing the necessary information to the public on this blitz. 
However, it does not make sense if the person then goes to the registration centre and fails to register.
If the issues at ZEC are not addressed with urgency, a significant number of youth will be deprived of an opportunity to register to vote
</blockquote>
Speaking to NewsDay, Zimbabwe Election Advocacy Trust executive director Ignatius Sadziwa, said:
<blockquote>
This can be attributed to the starting day being a Sunday when most people are attending church. We expect increased numbers as the week progresses.
However, we don’t see a lot of awareness being raised around the issue. ZEC is supposed to increase its advertising material so that people are aware.
At least 510 first-time voters are required from each of the 1 958 wards to reach the one million mark from this blitz.
I don’t think that is an asking figure if awareness is raised.
</blockquote>
ZEC deputy chairperson Rodney Simukai Kiwa told the publication that it was too early to comment on turnout. He said:
<blockquote>
It is early for us to comment on the turnout of the people on this registration blitz.
We will be in a position to comment at the end of the day (yesterday) for us to do a comparative analysis of the turnout to come up with an objective analysis.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZEC Voter Registration Blitz Commences

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.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

High Court Rejects MP’s Challenge For ZEC To Release Electronic Voters' Roll

Churches under the Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) are urging eligible citizens to register to vote in the upcoming general elections.
The churches have incorporated the “Pray, Register to vote and Vote” theme into their main Sunday programmes.
ZCC general secretary Wilfred Bimingo told <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200008447/churches-join-voter-registration-blitz">NewsDay</a> that Christians should understand that voting is a God-given right. Said Bimingo:
<blockquote>
Previous elections in the country have been violent and it had distanced the people of Zimbabwe, including Christians, from the electoral process.
We launched this campaign to educate and encourage people to vote, especially in the upcoming elections.
It does not focus on registration alone but on all other electoral processes. We are targeting young people.
People should exercise the democratic right to vote, which also is a right given by God.
We have seen an improvement in the participation of Christians in electoral processes following the launch of this campaign.
</blockquote>
According to ZEC, 5 804 975 people were on the 2023 voters’ roll as of April 2022, against an eligible voter population of 8 738 628.
ZEC is set to conduct its last voter registration blitz that will run from 12 to 21 March 2023.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pray, Register To Vote And Vote - Churches

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) on Wednesday accused a group of data analysts, Team Pachedu, of trying to hack into its system “about 100 times” and destabilise the country’s election processes.
Appearing before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs for a post-budget consultation meeting, ZEC chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana likened Team Pachedu’s alleged hacking attempts to attempted rape. Silaigwana said:
<blockquote>
The Pachedu group has not been able to break into our system, but they have made several attempts.
They have maliciously spread a lot of disinformation, misinformation and malformation about the commission, which then in the public eye looks like ZEC is highly, highly vulnerable and they have broken into, but they have not.
I think it is some kind of silly manoeuvres to try to destabilise ZEC. The purpose of the commission reporting them is that this is an attempt.
If someone attempts to rape, it is an offence, right? So they are attempting to rape ZEC and this is why we reported them.
There have been about 100 attempts to hack into our server, which hosts the voters’ roll, but they have never broken into it.
Our website system is separate from the system that hosts the voters’ roll.
</blockquote>
Team Pachedu says it has unearthed gross irregularities on the Voters’ Roll and has accused ZEC of attempting to rig the 2023 general elections.
Meanwhile, Silaigwana said the 2023 budget allocation for ZEC was 33% lower than the $151.2 billion it requested from Treasury. | <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200004366/team-pachedu-terrorists-zec">NewsDay</a>

Team Pachedu Attempting To Rape ZEC - Silaigwana

Harare North legislator Allan Norman Markham has taken the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to court to force the institution to give him an electronic copy of the national voters’ roll upon payment of the prescribed price of US$200 pegged for a copy.
Markham filed the application on Wednesday with his lawyers Wintertons Legal Practitioners.
In his application, the legislator said he has made several attempts to obtain a soft copy of the document from ZEC but he has hitherto been frustrated.
He further argued that ZEC is bound by the Electoral Act to furnish him or any other citizen with a copy of the voters’ roll in either hard or soft copy upon payment of the prescribed fee. He said in his founding affidavit:
<blockquote>
It is important to note that the fees for the voters’ roll in the respective formats are different.
The fee for the hard copy is US$200 plus the printing cost of US$1 per page which results in a total cost of about US$187.000.
This is many times more costly than the electronic copy of the voters’ roll, which is about US$200.00.
</blockquote>
Markham also argues that the electronic copy of the voters’ roll is more convenient than the document in hard copy format, saying:
<blockquote>
… electronic form is portable and can be easily analysed with relative ease; a hard copy of the national roll would be cumbersome to hold (one hundred and eighty-seven thousand pages) and practically impossible to analyse.
In addition, it takes the respondent 30 days to print a copy of the hard copy before an applicant who has complied with all the conditions set by the Respondent can have it.
So even if one has the money which I must say is exorbitant and unaffordable for many people including myself, you would still have to wait for a minimum of thirty days (30) for Respondent to print it.
The choice, therefore, is to procure an electronic copy is both borne out of its being more affordable and easier to obtain and analyse.
</blockquote>
Markham wants the High Court to order ZEC to avail the voters’ roll in electronic form as he requested.
He also wants the court to declare “that the tender by the respondent of a printed version/hard copy of the voters roll is invalid to the extent that it is not in accordance with the request made to it by the applicant of an electronic copy/version of the voters roll”.
ZEC has seven days to respond to the application. | <a href="https://www.zimlive.com/2022/11/harare-north-mp-sues-zec-after-denial-of-electronic-voters-roll/">ZimLive</a>

Harare North MP Sues ZEC After Denial Of Electronic Voters' Roll

CCC leader Nelson Chamisa has suggested that his party will consider boycotting the 2023 general elections if its grievances are not addressed.
CCC has demanded an independent audit of the voters’ roll, but the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has reportedly turned down the request.
In an exclusive interview with <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/thestandard/news/article/200003858/chamisa-issues-2023-poll-warning">The Standard</a>, Chamisa said that they will not allow an election without a credible voters’ roll. He said:
<blockquote>
We have been there (during the by-elections) to test the environment and also to test ZEC’s sincerity, but that test has left questions.
If there is no credible voters’ roll, we are telling citizens that it’s something that will be a deal breaker.
We will not allow an election that has no credible voters’ roll in this country.
There can’t be a credible election without access to an electronic voters’ roll, a credible one that is audited.
The voter’s roll must be audited by all parties.
</blockquote>
ZEC itself has conceded it had noted more than 180 000 errors on the voters’ roll as of 23 June 2022.
Chamisa said they have reached out to ZEC to raise their concerns but ZEC has not responded. Said Chamisa:
<blockquote>
We have written several times to ZEC, and we have written a document, a very detailed document indicating where we have qualms with their conduct and attitude, but they have not been able to respond to that document.
We have also written to them about the voters’ roll, but they have not been able to respond.
They have to pass the integrity, professionalism, and accountability test.
More importantly, they have to pass the independence test.
</blockquote>

Chamisa Demands An Audit Of The Voters' Roll By All Parties

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) banned a concert over the weekend that was meant to encourage young people to register to vote in the upcoming 2023 general elections.
The event, which had Asaph, Holy Ten and Enzo Ishall as headlining acts, was scheduled for Hartsfield Tshisanyama in Bulawayo on Saturday from 2 PM until midnight.
Initially, police had given permission to organisers, 3D Events Management, to hold the function, but then reversed the decision without giving reasons for the ban.
The police letter acknowledging receipt of the notification addressed to Mduduzi Mdlongwa reads:
<blockquote>
This office acknowledges receipt of your letter dated 7 November 2022 and has noted your request.
It remains your duty to ensure the concert is not held in contravention of any laws of the country. Thank you for the notification.
</blockquote>
The letter was signed off by one Chief Superintendent V. Nkomo, who is Bulawayo Central District Commander.

Police Ban A Register To Vote Music Concert  Targetting Young People

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has rejected reports that the voters’ roll is inaccessible and unaffordable for the majority of citizens.
ZEC spokesperson Jasper Mangwana said any registered voter can walk into their offices and inspect the voter’s roll free of charge.
He said for a soft copy of the national roll any individual or organisation can get it for US$200.
Mangwana argued that the US$187 000 price set for a physical copy of the voters’ roll is meant to guard against the manipulation and abuse of the voters’ roll.
He said the price does not affect any Zimbabwean voter directly or indirectly as anyone can access it even from their mobile phones. Mangwana told <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/voters-roll-accessible-affordable-to-all-zec/">The Herald</a>:
<blockquote>
Any individual can visit the nearest ZEC offices and be given the voter’s roll for inspection free of charge, taking notes with his or her pen.
Individuals using the NetOne and Econet lines can also freely check on their mobile numbers to see if they are registered by simply dialling *265#.
</blockquote>
Mangwana insisted that to avoid tempering and duplication of the voters’ roll, ZEC has created an online portal where one can log in and analyse the roll adding the voters’ roll copy is available in both electronic and hard copy format. He said:
<blockquote>
For hard copy it is US$1 per page as it will have security features to avoid tempering and duplication.
Some people have been abusing the voter roll by taking critical personal information of voters including their national identity numbers and addresses.
Some have been duplicating it outside the law. In 2018 a website run in the United Kingdom had a copy of a distorted voters’ roll.
Some have been manipulating the soft copy by editing, deleting, or adding names.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, opposition CCC treasurer-general David Coltart argued that it is unconstitutional for ZEC to demand US$187 000 for a copy of the voters’ role. He said:
<blockquote>
So @ZECzim says it will charge US$187,000 to provide a copy of the voters roll. Not only is this illegal it also breaches section 68 of the Constitution. It is clearly designed to prevent opposition parties from being able to audit a fraudulent voters roll. #Zimbabwe
And if the US$187,000 is paid only a paper copy will be provided so it will still be difficult to audit. There is no reason why an electronic copy cannot be provided, it is simply ridiculous to say that it will be manipulated. The original copy stays intact with @ZECzim.
</blockquote>

ZEC Says Voters' Roll Is Accessible And Affordable To All

ZANU PF says the US$187 000 fee demanded by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) for the release of a copy of the voters’ roll is too high for the majority of political parties.
ZANU PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa told <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200003179/were-too-richzanu-pf-says-not-bothered-by-high-zec-fees">NewsDay</a> that ZEC should create an environment that allows all political parties to participate in the democratic process. Said Mutsvangwa:
<blockquote>
The threshold should be lower to ensure a democratic right for everyone. The price will not affect the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) or ZANU PF, but it affects all political parties. There should not be a barrier to entry.
</blockquote>
This comes after a number of political parties expressed dismay over the price quoted to the Election Resource Centre (ERC) by ZEC last week for a printed copy of the voters’ roll.
ERC director Babra Bhebe said authorities should intervene to ensure that the voters’ roll is affordable. Said Bhebe:
<blockquote>
The purpose of stakeholders accessing the voters’ roll is that they can do an analysis of the voters’ roll and if there are any anomalies within the voters’ roll, we then share them with the commission for the purposes of improving the quality of the voters’ roll.
Something must be done to reduce the cost of accessing the voters’ roll.
</blockquote>
National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) leader Lovemore Madhuku described the price of a copy of the voters’ roll as ridiculous. He said:
<blockquote>
This is ridiculous and completely unacceptable. ZEC does not seem to be interested in running a fair election.
They want to make sure they tighten every screw as they did with nomination fees. This should be changed as soon as possible.
</blockquote>

Price Of Voters' Roll Too High - ZANU PF

Former Primary and Secondary Education Minister, David Coltart, has said it is unconstitutional for the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to demand US$187 000 for a copy of the voters’ role.
The Election Resource Centre (ERC) Thursday said they received the US$187 000 invoice after requesting a quotation from the electoral management body. ERC director Babra Bhebe told stakeholders at a delimitation conference in Bulawayo:
<blockquote>
As ERC we submitted a request to Zec to have access to the voters roll that it is going to use for the delimitation process. We received a response that it can only give us the hard copy. We then went ahead and requested an invoice and we got a quotation of above US$187 00 for us to be able to access the voters roll.
</blockquote>
Coltart, a member of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) said ZEC’s move was in violation of the constitution. Said the law expert:
<blockquote>
So @ZECzim says it will charge US$187,000 to provide a copy of the voters roll. Not only is this illegal it also breaches section 68 of the Constitution. It is clearly designed to prevent opposition parties from being able to audit a fraudulent voters roll. #Zimbabwe
And if the US$187,000 is paid only a paper copy will be provided so it will still be difficult to audit. There is no reason why an electronic copy cannot be provided, it is simply ridiculous to say that it will be manipulated. The original copy stays intact with @ZECzim.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, Jealousy Mawarire, a founding member and current spokesperson for the National Patriotic Front says ZEC is not the problem. He said: 
<blockquote>
If u remove emotions, u will focus on where the problem is, the law, SI145 of 2022, which demands ZEC charges $1 a page for a printed copy of the voters roll,not the independent commission enforcing the law. Say ZEC charged anyone $0.10 when the law says $1, will that be legal?
</blockquote>
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

ZEC's Demand For US$187K For A Copy Of The Voters' Roll Unconstitutional - Coltart

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) insists it will not release the voters’ roll on CDs saying this will protect the document from possible tampering.
Electoral watchdogs have said that the voters’ roll can be distributed in “read-only” mode, but ZEC spokesperson Jasper Mangwana told <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200002583/zec-digs-in-on-voters-roll">NewsDay</a> that the decision not to use CDs will not be reversed. Said Mangwana:
<blockquote>
A decision to do away with CDs was already made.
That the CD could be available in a ‘read only’ mode) is not technically correct, a CD is not a data format that’s why you can write a video in MP4 format, pictures, word, or excel. The CD is accessed just like USB/DVD. 
What is key is the data format of excel which can be duplicated/pirated, edited, tampered with, and can be in the wrong hands since ZEC cannot control access to a CD given to individuals or organisations.
</blockquote>
He added that the voters’ roll is currently available in hard copy and soon in electronic format but will not be made available on CD. Added Mangwana:
<blockquote>
The voters’ roll is available in hard copy and soon in electronic format through a portal to adhere to the Electoral Act whose requirements do not allow unscrupulous elements to tamper with it and use it for commercial purposes.
ZEC will provide both hard and electronic copies as per the law and no more CDs for duplication, tampering with, or commercialisation of personal data.
</blockquote>
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) secretary for elections Ian Makone said that ZEC should make the voters’ roll easily accessible. He said:
<blockquote>
This is very crazy. When did they amend the Electoral Act for them to be able to make such changes?
You can’t audit the roll on the portal. Which law is guiding them to make the changes? It is also of concern that even the hard copy of the roll is not easily accessible.
It costs $1 per page and has over 1 000 pages and can only be availed after 30 days of purchase.
One requires a pick-up truck to carry it from the ZEC offices. The biggest question is why all that secretiveness on a public document? What does ZEC want to cover up?
</blockquote>

No More Voters' Roll On CD, Says ZEC

Zimbabwe Election Advocacy Trust (ZEAT) national coordinator Robson Chikwinya has accused the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of bias in ongoing voter registration ahead of the 2023 elections.
Chikwinya claimed that ZEC is putting more resources into rural areas to ensure that more people in perceived ZANU PF strongholds are on the voters’ roll whilst frustrating those in urban areas. He said:
<blockquote>
As an organisation, we have noted that ZEC is doing more to make sure that the registration centres for rural areas register more people than those in towns.
It seems there is bias somewhere, somehow as more people are being registered in rural areas than towns… I feel that ZEC must be more serious and treat the rural virgin voter equally as the urban one.
ZEC must up the game and also make sure that each polling centre is a registration centre.
As ZEAT we are currently engaging ZEC and Parliament over the issue so that the right to vote is guaranteed to everyone regardless of location.
</blockquote>
Human rights lawyer Freddy Masarirevhu, who has been conducting a voter mobilising campaign since February, also accused ZEC of deliberately making it hard for people to register as voters. Said Masarirevhu:
<blockquote>
The ZEC staff members are in most cases hostile to the citizens who want to register to vote.
Sometimes they set conditions that are unnecessary. One day, they were saying they were registering people who are below the age of 20 and the majority of those we had mobilised were above 20.
All the prospective registrants failed to register to vote. Such deliberate disenfranchisement of the voting process should be addressed urgently to achieve free and fair elections.
</blockquote>
However, ZEC chief elections officer Utloile Silaigwana denied claims that the elections management body was deliberately frustrating first-time voters. 
He said continuous voter registration is being conducted at all ZEC provincial and district offices during working hours. | <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200000466/zec-frustrating-first-time-voters">NewsDay</a>

ZEC Accused Of Frustrating First-time Voters

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) deputy director for Elections and Training Rejoice Mthombeni said that 11 000 people from the 5,4 million registered voters have been placed on the exclusion list.
Presenting a paper on Electoral Processes at a media workshop on election reporting in Bulawayo, she said the names of the excluded registrants would be forwarded to the Registrar General.
<blockquote>There are close to 11 000 people on the exclusion list because there are some instances where we noticed that there are people with the same names, surname, same age, and registration documents. So, as we were clearing the voters roll, we picked up those things.So we have taken that to the Registrar General’s office because say for example someone between the two, one would be having an authentic document, so we took it to civil registry so that they determine who is who.</blockquote>
More: <a href="http://www.chronicle.co.zw/11-000-people-placed-on-zec-exclusion-list/">Chronicle</a>

11 000 Registered Voters Placed On Exclusion List, Demographic Data Not Captured Correctly

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has announced the accreditation fees for inspecting the voters roll scheduled for 19-29 May 2018.
Below are the prices:
<ul>
<li>Local observers- $10 </li>
<li>African observers $120</li>
<li>Embassy observers $150 </li>
<li>Non African observers $10</li>
<li>Journalists from Africa- $20</li>
<li>Zimbabwean journalists accredited with the Zimbabwe Media Commission and working in the country for foreign media houses- $50</li>
<li>Local journalists- $10 </li>
</ul>

ZEC Announces Fees For Inspecting The Voters Roll

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has said that it will not open its servers to the public. This follows requests by some civil society organisations that ZEC should make its servers accessible to members of the public for accountability purposes.
In an interview with The Herald, ZEC Commissioner Qhubani Moyo said the public will be invited to inspect the voters’ roll. Said Moyo:
<blockquote>Zimbabwe has millions of people and if we open up our servers you can imagine what will happen. But the key thing is that storage of data is purely a security matter between ZEC and the person who is registered. The moment you begin to open that data to anyone else other than the party that has registered, you will be, therefore, compromising the whole issue of secrecy of data. There is going to be voter inspection, so during voter inspection, the people can then evaluate the information that we would have put into the servers as this is what is going to be placed in the provisional voter’s roll.</blockquote>
More: <a href="http://www.herald.co.zw/electoral-body-wont-open-servers-to-public-zec/">Herald</a>

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