BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) says it is experiencing continuous power cuts that are negatively affecting the ongoing final mobile voter registration blitz at some centers in the country.
ZEC revealed this in a statement issued on Tuesday, adding that the situation was being worsened by the cloudy weather conditions.
ZEC is currently running a 10-day final voter registration campaign, which ends on March 21 as the country prepares preparations for the 2023 harmonised elections whose date has not been announced.
“The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) hereby notifies the public that it is currently experiencing technical difficulties at some of its registration centres,” ZEC said.
“This is due to shortages of electricity affecting the charging of the BVR kits.
“The situation is also worsened by the cloudy weather, which affects the solar-powered BVR kits.”
The commission, however, assured the public that every eligible citizen will be registered.
ZEC has already tabled a $130 billion budget to conduct the harmonised polls, with Treasury now expected to start disbursing the funds.
According to ZEC’s preliminary 2023 elections roadmap, the polls management body is preparing for an extensive post-delimitation awareness programme to explain to the electorate the new electoral boundaries.
This process will lead to other routine electoral procedures such as accreditation of observers and the media, production of the voters’ roll, constitution of the nomination court and establishment of the Multi-Party Liaison Committee.