Harare, Zimbabwe (News of the South) – The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has dismissed the threat by opposition parties to go into the streets and demonstrate against the supposed unequal distribution of voter registration centres.
Speaking to the media the ZEC chairperson Rita Makarau stated that demonstrations were the party’s rights and they could go ahead but that would not sway her organisation.
“We will not stay in the way of their demonstrations. It’s their democratic right to demonstrate.”
Makarau explained that they had reached out to the parties and laid out their plans with justifications.
“We have reached out to them (opposition parties). We had a meeting with political parties late last week, where we gave them this information and during that meeting, we made it clear that we were open to receive their representation on how we can improve on the distribution plan that we have come up with”
“We did indicate to them that we were trying to be very scientific in our approach”
Despite conspiracy theories abounding that ZEC has plotted to have fewer centres in opposition strongholds and many in Zanu PF backbones, ZEC dismissed this and stated th system the allocation is scientifically fair.
“We are trying to be fair in our approach, but if they can find a way of improving on those objectives and scientific criteria, we are welcome to receive those”
“They can still demonstrate while they are talking to us, we welcome both.”
ZEC recently announced that there will be 9633 voter registration centres countrywide and of that number opposition strongholds of Harare and Bulawayo have been allocated 700 and 400 centres respectively.
This translates into a mere 12% of the total registration centres.
However in an effort to iron out the differences the Electoral body will meet with the political parties this week.
Makarau said they will have a meeting which ironically coincides with the planned MDC-T demonstration slated for Wednesday.
“If they think they can get answers in the street, they are free to do so.”
On the acquisition of the Biometric Voter machinery Makarau said everything is progressing well after the initial payment of deposit.
“We have now paid the required 50% deposit to the supplier. If you were following reports in the media last week, we did inform political parties that we were required to make a 50% down payment before the supplier would deliver the kits,” she said.
“I am happy to announce that 50% deposit has now been paid. We are now holding very serious conversations with the supplier to find out when they will make the first delivery.”
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