Source: NERA Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) continues to demonstrate that it has no intention of upholding the constitutional rights of Citizens by affording every citizen of Zimbabwe the Right to Vote. ZEC declared AGAIN that it had no resources TO PROVIDE A SERVICE FOR THE CITIZENS. This time ZEC stated it had NO resources to facilitate the Diaspora Vote. ZEC has in the past declared that it had no money for Voter Education. ZEC also declared it could and would not demilitarize.NERA is extremely disturbed by ZEC’s continued declaration of failure to carry out the DUTIES ZEC is required to afford Citizens under the Constitution and the Electoral Act. It appears ZEC wears its inability to complete an honest day work as a badge of honour. ZEC feels a mere declaration that it cannot not afford or is unable to complete a mandatory task required under the law is simply OK and should GO unchallenged.
NERA would like to make it very Clear that since ZEC cannot
1. Afford to Complete Voter Education
2. Afford Diaspora the Facilities to Vote
3. Cannot Demilitarize
ZEC has officially put it ON RECORD they are UNABLE and UNWILLING to afford all Zimbabwean Citizens FREE and FAIR ELECTIONS. Incompetency or Inability to do your job is NOT an acceptable excuse. ZEC Must take the time to read the constitution and Electoral Act so they can reacquaint themselves with their role in the Electoral Process.
ZEC must understand that Elections are a fundamental building block of democracy. Free and fair elections are central to the legitimacy of a democratic government. Elections where Citizens are
1. NOT Afforded enough time for Voter Education
2. NOT Afforded enough time for Voter Registration
3. NOT Afforded Facilities to Register or Vote
4. Intimidated or Opposition parties are intimidated
Are not FREE and FAIR. If ZEC continues to operate at this level of incompetency, then NERA will have NO choice but to seek legal action on behalf of its stakeholders and the Citizens whose rights have been DENIED. Fair means that elections are conducted on an open and level playing field for all candidates and according to the law. ZEC continues to refuse to level the playing field.
ZEC must also understand that it is not Fiscally Responsible for the Zimbabwean Tax payer to continue to accommodate payroll for incompetent and ineffective agency so it is only prudent that ZEC immediately BE disbanded as there can only be room on the payroll for competent workers. In addition, based on ZEC’s performance or should we say lack of performance and ZEC’s own declaration of its shortcomings the dutiful and legally acceptable way to go would be for ZEC to declare itself incompetent and Disband immediately to pave way for a neutral and Competent Electoral Commission which is focused honoring the rights of the Citizens and not the needs of ZANU PF.
NERA and the Citizens of Zimbabwe have had enough of the excuses, enough is enough. Rule of Law must be respected. NERA is strongly reminding ZEC that it serves at the pleasure of the Zimbabwean people and that ZEC must serve its citizens in manor that is lawful and Fair. The question which is now REMAINS AND IS GLARING OBVIOUS is CAN ZEC be trusted to complete any electoral task and furthermore Can ZEC be trusted to complete any electoral task CORRECTLY.
NERA will remain steadfast in pushing for electoral reform and stand United with the citizens of Zimbabwe in our peaceful fight for a better Zimbabwe
Source: NERA Zimbabwe