Zex Pudurai
TellZim Reporter
MASVINGO—
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has come under fire from members of the
media, civil society and elections observers who argue that the charging of
accreditation fees in US dollars is unjustified.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has come under fire from members of the
media, civil society and elections observers who argue that the charging of
accreditation fees in US dollars is unjustified.
Government recently gazetted
Statutory Instrument (SI) 142 of 2019 banning the use of foreign currency to do
local transactions. This meant that only the RTGS$ became the sole legal tender
for local transactions.
Statutory Instrument (SI) 142 of 2019 banning the use of foreign currency to do
local transactions. This meant that only the RTGS$ became the sole legal tender
for local transactions.
The Zec Masvingo provincial office
is, however, charging $10 for accreditation to cover or monitor the Bikita East
Ward 31 by-election which will be held this Saturday, July 13, 2019.
is, however, charging $10 for accreditation to cover or monitor the Bikita East
Ward 31 by-election which will be held this Saturday, July 13, 2019.
Various stakeholders who visited the
Zec provincial offices today seeking accreditation were shocked after being told
that accreditation fees were pegged at US$10 or the RTGS$ equivalent using the
interbank exchange rate of the day.
Zec provincial offices today seeking accreditation were shocked after being told
that accreditation fees were pegged at US$10 or the RTGS$ equivalent using the
interbank exchange rate of the day.
“This kind of selective application
of the law and inconsistency is what makes every government policy defective.
Other organisations will also ignore the US dollar ban,” said one journalist.
of the law and inconsistency is what makes every government policy defective.
Other organisations will also ignore the US dollar ban,” said one journalist.
Zec provincial boss Zex Pudurai
could not be reached for comment as his mobile was not available, with his
office saying he was in the field assessing preparations for the election.
could not be reached for comment as his mobile was not available, with his
office saying he was in the field assessing preparations for the election.
Three political parties are battling
it out in the by-election; with Zanu PF being represented by Thomas Mataga
while the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC is being represented by Moses Maposa. The National
Constitutional Assembly (NCA) is being represented by Peter Mavenga.
it out in the by-election; with Zanu PF being represented by Thomas Mataga
while the Nelson Chamisa-led MDC is being represented by Moses Maposa. The National
Constitutional Assembly (NCA) is being represented by Peter Mavenga.
