VOTER registration supervisors will be accorded commissioner of oaths status to assist people without proof of residence documents at registration centres. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) says it has engaged the Ministry of Home Affairs to grant voter registration supervisors commissioner of oaths status.
ZEC chairperson Justice Rita Makarau said this yesterday during a visit of registration centres in Murehwa where she had accompanied Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Retired Major-General Happyton Bonyongwe. It is envisaged that this would help eliminate the inconvenience suffered by aspiring registrants, especially in urban areas.
“We have also observed that, mainly in the rural areas, we do not have any challenges relating to proof of residence and that the issue of commissioners of oaths is an issue we need to address mainly for our urban registrants, and it is an issue that we are already addressing,” said Makarau.
“We have been in touch with the Ministry of Home Affairs. We have requested them to grant our voter registration supervisors commissioner of oaths status just for this exercise so that we may make it easy for people who may not have documents to prove their residency in the urban areas”, she added.
ZEC has established 2 508 registration centres countrywide for the massive voter registration exercise ahead of next year’s harmonised elections. Potential voters are expected to register anew as a new voters’ roll is being compiled through the current registration process. The second phase of the exercise, which began yesterday will run until November 13, while the third segment will take place between November 16 and December 1. The last leg will run from December 4 to December 19.
