Harare, Zimbabwe (News of the South)-Local electoral and democracy think tank the Election Resource Center (ERC) has implored newly appointed Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Ziyambi Ziyambi to prioritise pushing for the adequate funding of 2018 elections.
Ziyambi (ZANU PF) was appointed this week by a directive through the Speaker of Parliament Jacob Mudenda to take over from Jessie Majome (MDC-T) in line with Section 160 of the Parliament of Zimbabwe Standing Rules and Orders.
The ERC said adequate funding for the 2018 elections will go a long way in avoiding unnecessary misshapes.
“The ERC enjoins Hon Ziyambi to ensure that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is adequately funded to enable them to execute their mandate without compromise or negligence to fundamental issues”, it said.
Funding constraints have continued being a challenges for ZEC as government struggles in an illiquid economic situation which has been worsened by a paranoid fear for external involvement in elections.
The fear for global interference by government has seen it refusing the assistance of UNDP in acquiring the Biometric Voting machinery this week despite an earlier agreement.
The ERC further challenged Ziyambi to expedite the re-alignment of Electoral Laws to the 2013 Constitution.
“Part of Ziyambi’s assignments as he takes up this position is to oversee the conclusion of the ERC petition which calls for Parliament to expedite re-alignement of the Electoral Act with the Constitution of Zimbabwe”
On 22 September 2015 the ERC along with 14 other civil society organisations petitioned Parliament urging for re-alignment of Electoral Laws with the Constitution which was enacted into law in 2013.
Public hearings to this effect were facilitated by the committee from October 2016 in Harare, Gwanda, Mutoko, Concession, Gweru, Bulawayo and Mutare.
“The ERC enjoins Hon Ziyambi to preside over the conclusion of the petitioning process and implores upon the Chairperson to expedite the release of the post-public hearing Parliament Report on the ERC petition; to prioritise alignment of Electoral Laws with the Constitution”.
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