BY TICHAONA MATARUSE
Hwange Central Constituency in Matabeleland North Province last week launched a voter awareness and registration campaign ahead of the 2023 harmonized elections.
The spokesperson in the constituency, Thulani Moyo said the campaign was developed after realizing that the people of Hwange were adamant in their reaction registration for elections.
The campaign, he said, was a call to encourage everyone to register to vote especially the youth.
Moyo said they have engaged councilors from different wards to partake in the awareness by compiling a list of residents who need to register.
As part of the weekly programme, those who need to register to vote are provided with transport.
“The reaction has been a bit slow,” said Moyo.
“People in Hwange are slow in attending to issues. They are a bit passive but we will put a lot of effort into encouraging the youths and those who are not registered to come up through the respective ward councillors. We have sent a message to announce that anyone who wants to register may approach their councillors and make sure that names are taken down then we provide transport so that they can register at the ZEC office.”
Matabeleland North Province has a total of 13 constituencies; to date, at least 340 427 voters have registered to vote, of which 22 636 are drawn from Hwange Central.
Though the residents are reacting a bit slow to the apparent newly launched voters registration blitz, he said that when they rolled out the program they managed to garner 20 people to get registered to vote.
He said the programme would remain open to those who need to register and will be closing next year by the time ZEC also closes its program for the 2023 elections.
“It’s an ongoing programme and we have designed it that every week on a Friday if there are people who are available to go and register we provide transport. ” he added.