By Moses Chibaya.
Harare, Zimbabwe. (News Of The South) – Zimbabwe’s make or break general elections due in 2018 are already under threat due to the misery budget allocation to the election management body, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), regional election watchdog has lamented.
“Harmonised elections in 2018 are under threat of being illegitimate and not credible way before they are conducted,” the Election Resource Centre (ERC) said adding that, “Without adjustments to the budget allocation for ZEC, conducting of an election will not deliver credibility and legitimacy, it must be postponed.”
The ERC said the lack of prioritisation of ZEC funding speaks volumes about the lack of political will on the reform agenda.
“The prevailing budget allocation is a threat to the credibility of elections in Zimbabwe. It threatens the efficiency and sustainability of the country’s democracy. It opens up for increased disenfranchisement and voter suppression,” ERC said.
The organisation added: “the budgetary vote given to the EMB says a lot about political will for electoral reforms, credible elections, and general improvements in the democracy of the country.”
The ERC, whose vision is a Zimbabwe where credible information, inclusive democratic and electoral processes at all tiers of society, said 2017 is a critical year as it covers the covers pre-electoral processes of voter registration, voter education, polling specific demarcation and administrative preparations for elections pencilled for 2018.
“The lessons of 2013 show that election costs cannot be budgeted for during the year of the election if credibility, transparency, and legitimacy are to be achieved,” reads part of the statement.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) submitted a budget to the Parliament of Zimbabwe for consideration in the 2017 national budget in November 2016.
The ERC insisted that the state must prioritize funding of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and meet their constitutional obligations, in particular, provided for in Section 155.
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