EDITORIAL COMMENT: Time running out for ZEC

ZIMBABWE is expected to hold general elections in 18 months’ time yet indications are that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has done very little to prepare for this crucial plebiscite.

During its meeting with opposition parties last week, ZEC revealed that it had no resources to carry out its constitutional obligations as the country approaches the 2018 polls.

ZEC informed opposition political parties operating under the National Electoral Reform Agenda banner that it had no resources to facilitate the diaspora vote.

The elections management body also indicated that it was currently not in a position to register voters despite the fact that the voter registration exercise is constitutionally supposed to be an on-going process.

The electoral commission is yet to make arrangements for the acquisition of the bio-metric voting system ever since its announcement in May that it required US$50 million to implement the new polling system.

Moreover, ZEC also declared that it has no money for voter education, a critical obligation, which is necessary to ensure free and fair elections.

To make matters worse, ZEC has also declared it would not demilitarise, arguing that the military personnel within its ranks had signed binding employment contracts with the commission.

In our view, these declarations by the commission are unfortunate as they suggest a failure by ZEC to acknowledge the centrality of the role it plays in ensuring that the 2018 elections are free and fair.

ZEC carries the onerous responsibility of ensuring that the next elections are not disputed and produce a legitimate leadership.

It is critical for ZEC to bear in mind that the current socio-economic crisis in the country is largely attributed to a flawed election outcome spawned by a disputed electoral process.

There is no doubt therefore that the course of Zimbabwe’s economic crisis will be determined by the manner in which ZEC will conduct the next general elections.

A shambolic and disputed electoral process will only worsen the current crisis while a free and fair election which produces a legitimate leadership will help rescue the country from this deteriorating economic quagmire.

In this regard, ZEC’s continued declaration of its inability to timeously and satisfactorily carry out its constitutional duties is extremely disturbing.

Constitutionally, ZEC has a vital obligation to deliver free and fair elections, which will ensure social, political and economic stability in the country.

However, ZEC mistakenly believes that a mere declaration that it cannot afford to carry out its mandatory duties, as required under the law, is acceptable.

Our electoral laws are very elaborate on the central role that ZEC should play in ensuring free and fair elections in the country.

Yet ZEC continues to demonstrate that it has no urgent intention of delivering on its constitutional mandate.

Time is clearly running out for ZEC to attend to the legitimate and specific electoral concerns raised by opposition parties as well as delivering free and fair elections in 2018.

Zimbabwe cannot afford another disputed election outcome.