REGISTRAR-GENERAL (RG) Tobaiwa Mudede has rejected calls by MDC to adopt an online voter registration system, arguing his office has inadequate checks and balances to detect electoral fraud. REPORT BY MOSES MATENGA STAFF REPORTER
In a letter dated January 14 addressed to MDC secretary-general Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, Mudede said a lot of problems were likely to arise from the online registration system.
He argued that the majority of people in the rural areas had no access to the Internet and would not benefit from the proposal.
“Online registration does not have adequate checks and balances to detect electoral fraud,” Mudede said.
“There is a strong probability that some people will be involved in the abuse of passwords to register or transfer voters without their consent to deliberately distort and corrupt the voters’ roll.
“The requirement of proof of residence for voters both in Zimbabwe and those outside is a challenge.
“Physical verification of the voter will not be catered for as aptly provided for by the statute.”
Quoting Section 24 of the Electoral Act, Mudede said any person who wished to be registered as a voter on the voters’ roll for any constituency, shall present himself or herself at the appropriate registration office in order for the prescribed claim form to be completed on his or her behalf by the constituency registrar, his or her deputy or assistant.
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Misihairabwi-Mushonga recently said there was need for an online voter registration to replace the current system which she described as obsolete.
“Cognisant of the trends the world over, we feel that in this technological era, the current system of voter registration in Zimbabwe is nonsensical,” she said.
“While we welcome the introduction of mobile registration points, the MDC feels that the process is unnecessarily cumbersome, which discourages the younger generation from registering as voters.”
The MDC has blamed long queues witnessed at the RG’s Office as discouraging a lot of people, especially youths, from getting registered.
