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Zec defends Tsvangirai role

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ZEC yesterday defended PM Tsvangirai’s involvement in preparations for this year’s harmonised elections saying the MDC-T leader is not interfering with the process.

THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) yesterday defended Prime Minister (PM) Morgan Tsvangirai’s involvement in preparations for this year’s harmonised elections saying the MDC-T leader is not interfering with the process. Report by Everson Mushava

Joyce Kazembe, Zec deputy chairperson, told journalists in Harare that Tsvangirai was a mere facilitator following criticism from some sections of the media after the PM held meetings with the independent commission a fortnight ago.

Kazembe addressed journalists after another meeting with Tsvangirai, Justice minister Patrick Chinamasa, Registrar-General (RG) Tobaiwa Mudede, acting Constitutional Affairs minister Nelson Chamisa and Home Affairs co-minister Theresa Makone yesterday.

Makone, who is also the acting Finance minister, used the occasion to announce the release of $13 million to kick-start preparations for the watershed polls President Robert Mugabe wants this year.

The money will be used to kick-start voter registration and education, an exercise that was supposed to start last week, but was delayed by lack of funds.

Tsvangirai said as head of government business, it was his responsibility to ensure Zec has all it needs to conduct a credible poll.

“He is simply a facilitator,” Kazembe said. “He is not interfering.” Makone said Tsvangirai was concerned about the delays in preparations for the harmonised elections.

The minister said she had been scheduled to meet Ministry of Finance officials yesterday to order the immediate release of about $13 million to Zec and the RG’s Office.

“I will meet the responsible people at the Finance ministry to see to it that the money is immediately released,” Makone said. Plus or minus $13 million should be released to kick-start the process of voter registration and education.

“We have agreed the process should start as soon as initial funding is released. The money is available. I have been assured by the PM that the substantive Finance minister Tendai Biti has indicated that the money for this process is available.”

Chinamasa at the weekend accused Tsvangirai of derailing the electoral process by failing to facilitate the release of $21 million to Zec for voter education and registration.

Tsvangirai hit back and accused Chinamasa of being dishonest since he was aware that no budget had been approved for the exercise. Kazembe said Zec needed $8 million for voter registration and education in the 1 958 wards.

On the other hand, the RG’s Office requires $13 million to process national identity cards for people to register as voters for a period of two months.

“We are waiting for the money and we had been assured the money is available locally,” Kazembe said.

“Basically, we have been assured the money will come and so the issue is when. “We are ready to go on the ground as soon as we receive the money.” Tsvangirai’s spokesperson William Bango said the PM called for the meeting because he was concerned about the delays.

He said Zec was now fully in charge of the voter registration process and Mudede would report to the commission on election matters.

“All major items have been cleared and the voter registration exercise will begin soon,” Bango said.

Chamisa said elections would only be held after the adoption of a new constitution.