The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) provided temporary relief to candidates and political parties that were unable to submit their nomination papers on Wednesday due to payment challenges.
ZEC Chief Elections Officer, Utoile Silaigwana, confirmed the Commission received reports from potential candidates that they were excluded from filing nomination papers due to problems with the banking system.
“ZEC has noted with concern reports to the effect that prospective candidates were disqualified from lodging their nomination papers on account of difficulties experienced in effecting payment of nomination fees largely due to the current challenges within the banking system,” Silaigwana said.
“In view of this, the Commission is calling upon all candidates and parties whose nomination had been submitted but had challenges with the Commission’s point of sale machines and those who had submitted proof of payments but funds not reflecting in ZEC’s account to approach the respective nomination courts wherein their papers were lodged and make the necessary payments or get confirmation of said payment no later than 4 pm, June 22, 2023.”
Silaigwana claimed the overriding mission for ZEC is to be accommodative and inclusive in order to enable Zimbabwean voters the right to exercise their “cherished” democratic rights.
One of the female presidential candidates, Elisabeth Valerio, of the United ZImbabwe Alliance (UZA) complained on Wednesday that despite having paid her nomination fees, she had been informed by ZEC that her payment in local currency had not been processed and that she would need to produce a cash payment of US$20 000.
“It’s been a tragic day! – Paperwork done and approved by Nomination Court – ZWL$138 531 528 payments made – Proof of payments submitted – Proof of payment rejected. Told to produce US$20 000 cash payment to ZEC by midnight or be denied (despite having paid in full). You can guess the outcome,” she said, stating that she had been unsuccessful in her bid for the presidency.
Valerio also said some of her parliamentarian candidates faced the same scenario, but hoped for a better outcome.
