Harare, Zimbabwe (News of the South) – Civil society groups have questioned the ability of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to carry out a free and fair election in 2018 citing a number of discrepancies.
The Concerned Citizens Support Network of Zimbabwe (CCSNZ) has since called for protests against the Rita Makarau led body accusing it of failing to fulfilling its mandate.
“If ZEC is, therefore, not competent to meet its agreed demands, timelines and meets its commitments to stakeholders, then we believe this opens up a possibility of a class action to demand that Zec be disbanded, as their incompetency will have been proven and ruled on by the courts.”
The civil rights group is also concerned about requirements by ZEC that prospective voters must provide proof of residence for registration to vote.
“ZEC must remove strict requirements on residence requirement, begin the implementation of BVR as soon as is possible and ensure sufficient time is given to every Zimbabwean who is eligible to vote to register,” CCSNZ demanded.
A majority of the country’s population is enduring economic hardships and a united opposition is projected to deal Mugabe a blow but critics allege the vote will be rigged in his favour.
Speaking in Johannesburg last week, Mugabe’s deputy Emmerson Mnangagwa said the polls would be credible.
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