The Zimbabwe Election Support Network said Tuesday that a bill to reform the country’s electoral system is flawed because it leaves responsibility for compiling the voters roll with the registrar general, saying the Electoral Commission should do the job.
Under the Electoral Amendment Bill now moving through Parliament, the Office of the Registrar General retains control over the national voters list – albeit under the supervision and oversight of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. The Zimbabwe Election Support Network said this will merely dilute accountability.
Other critics said that under the proposed bill, the commission has no direct control over constituency registrars, who will take voter information for the national compilation.
Executive Director Irene Petras of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said the creation of a new and legitimate voters roll can only be done by an independent body, and that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is best suited to handle that task.
Full Article: Zimbabwe Election Advocacy Group Urges Shift in Control of Voters List | News | Zimbabwe.