Melinda Kusemachibi
A coalition of 26 residents associations working under the banner ‘Residents Association Coalition for Electoral Reforms’ has bemoaned lack of access to national registration documents and structural discrimination which they say have become obstacles in electoral processes.
Addressing a press briefing in Masvingo on January 26 on behalf of various residents associations, Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Association (MURRA) director Anoziva Muguti said delays in accessing national documents ahead of elections equals violating human rights as everyone has the right to national registration documents.
“Lack of access to national registration documents and structural discrimination has become obstacles for residents to participate in electoral processes in particular the upcoming by-elections and watershed 2023 general elections.
“We call upon the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission to urgently engage the Registrar General and investigate the causes into the delay of issuance of national registration documents as this is violating human rights and in this case the right to vote,” said Muguti.
He also said that there should be creation of an ideal environment where national registration documents are accessible to everyone.
“For the right to vote and be elected to be exercised meaningfully, it is important that there is an environment where national registration documents are accessible to residents in all parts of the country,” he said.
However, he went on to say as an organization, they also noted with concern the discriminatory practices.
“As the Nomination Court sits on the January 26, 2022 for local government and national assembly by-elections, we note with concern the discriminatory practices at the Nomination Court processes of demanding marriage certificates on female candidates and divorce papers for previously married women, while the same documentation is not required for men,” said Muguti.
This also come against a background where women comprise just 14percent of the total councilors’ population in Zimbabwe and this figure has declined by two percentage points in each election since 2013, when women comprised 18percent of the elected representatives in local government.
Muguti also indicated that as residents associations, they have engaged legal experts who are seized with the matter.
“To this end we have engaged legal and electoral experts who are seized with the matter. We therefore, make recommendations that the Residents Association for Electoral Reforms will petition Parliament on the challenges associated with voter registration including access to documentation and approach the Constitutional Court on discriminatory practices in the nomination court processes,” said Muguti.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) shelved the mobile voter registration blitz, that was supposed to start in December 2021 saying a number of new registrants had no national Identity Documents (IDs) and were giving them until February to get them, and only then would electoral body resume the exercise.
However, citizens seeking national identity cards and birth certificates are facing challenges in acquiring the crucial documents as they are asked to book first then apply later owing to a number of challenges.
