ECZ To Announce Voter Registration Extension

 The ECZ is expected to today announce an extension to the voter registration exercise.

The exercise finished on December 12th and the three day period since has allowed for a comprehensive review of statistics and logistical arrangements, according to ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Patrick Nshindano.

The accumulative figure of registered voters is also expected to be announced but most recently stood at 4.3 million.

There have been several concerns regarding the process. Chief among these is that not enough time has been allocated to the exercise that seeks to create a brand new voters register of around 9 million voters. 

Others have questioned the fairness of the process. These include the Civil Society Constitution Agenda (CiSCA). Acting Chair Judith Mulenga has aired concerns that the registration process appeare lopsided and skewed to advantage certain regions in the country. According to Mulenga this “not only flies in the face of both the human rights standards and our constitutional guarantees but is a subversion of the ECZ’s mandate. It is a very clear hallmark of inefficiency and ineffectiveness.” 

The CiSCA Acting Chair has called for a serious commitment to openness, communication and accountability by the ECZ in order to support the credibility of next year’s elections and the legitimacy of the winner.

Specifically Mulenga said CiSCA was recommending the investigation of allegations that there has been a deliberate effort to register more voters in PF strongholds by allocating more personnel for the exercise in these areas. 

She also suggested that as the ECZ set a target of registering 9 million voters they should continue to register people until that target is met and that the commission should also provide disaggregated figures for registrations in each province so they can be scrutinised.

“Time is running out, but it is not too late for the ECZ to correct this situation, if they really want to,” Mulenga concluded.