The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has barred the Zimbabwe Political Parties Dialogue Forum (ZPPDF) from partaking in the Biometric Voter Registration kit testing pilot project. ZPPDF is a technical partner of the opposition National Electoral Reform Agenda (NERA) coalition. The forum had written to ZEC, asking to be allowed to participate in the BVR testing pilot project. Last week ZEC engaged political parties and civil society organisations that deal with elections where the electoral body announced that it was going to test the feasibility of the BVR.
The Rita Makarau-led elections agency also said the NERA technical team was going to be involved in the BVR testing programme.
However, responding to the ZPPDF’s request on Thursday, ZEC chairperson Rita Makarau, said there was no vacancy for the political parties’ technical partner to partake in the process.
Full Article: Zimbabwe: Biometrics – ZEC Blocks Opposition Expert – allAfrica.com.