Poll watchdog calls on Parly to review Electoral Act

via Poll watchdog calls on Parly to review Electoral Act – NewsDay Zimbabwe December 3, 2015

The Elections Resource Centre (ERC) has called on Parliament to review the Electoral Act to allow more players to conduct voter education.

by VENERANDA LANGA

In their policy brief for the month of November produced on Tuesday, ERC said voter education in Zimbabwe had several challenges among them a short and limited process that was narrow and not attractive to young people.

“The law governing voter education in Zimbabwe (Electoral Act section 40b, c, d, e and f) does not allow for continuous voter education, provision of voter education by other persons other than the commission (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) and restricted voter education material, which reduce public confidence, knowledge and understanding of electoral processes in Zimbabwe,” ERC said.

“There is need to open up voter education to broader civil society with adequate, but not overbearing, oversight, to provide for continuous voter education in Zimbabwe and to review the law (Electoral Act) to allow more players to conduct voter education.”

ERC said the sections in the Electoral Act, which restricted other players other than the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) to provide for voter education, were also against section 61 of the Constitution, which guaranteed freedom of expression.

They said there was need to extend voter education to students at tertiary institutions, as well as to ensure Zec had enough resources to adequately provide voter education.
In the 2016 National Budget, Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa allocated $8,4 million to Zec.

“Zec should consider revision of the voter education curriculum and methodology to reach the youth, women and people living with disabilities who are marginalised,” ERC said.
“The use of appropriate technology and social media would go a long way in improving voter education. For blind people, they could introduce Braille, sign language interpreters for the deaf and hard of hearing, and inclusion of disabled peer educators.”

ERC called upon the government, political parties and other stakeholders in the electoral process to ensure the operating environment was conducive for credible elections and to buttress the efforts of Zec in voter education.

“Voter education is a vital element in the electoral process as it facilitates public confidence, and knowledge and information among citizens. It is the embodiment of freedom of expression as guaranteed in the Bill of Rights. Limiting its provision is tantamount to violating the Constitution.”