THE Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-Southern Africa) has called for the disbandment of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) secretariat which was involved in the 2008 elections charging the team should not be given a second chance to “ruin elections”. REPORT BY MOSES MATENGA STAFF REPORTER
In an open letter to Commission chairperson Justice Simpson Mutambanengwe, the anti-corruption body said due to Zec’s inabilities in 2008, many people were killed while thousands were displaced as a result of internal conflict hence the need for the staff in question to resign.
“You will recall in 2008 that the world witnessed the failure by Zec, in the execution of its mandate in a fair, independent, professional, transparent and impartial manner.
“This was the case looking at the harmonised elections that were held on 29 March 2008, followed by the presidential run-off election that took place on June 27 2008,” said Alouis Munyaradzi Chaumba the regional coordinator.
The letter reads in part: “By reason of its unprofessional conduct, at least 160 people were killed and about 30 000 were internally displaced. Other effects of the bungling by the Zec were that the state was left paralysed, effectively with no government in place from March 2008.
“You will agree with us that the Zec was partly responsible for the mayhem and is still held accountable for the status quo in Zimbabwe.
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“To this end, we are calling upon your office to ensure all commissioners and members of staff at all levels, including the Zec chief executive officer Lovemore Sekeramayi, who were part of the 2008 mismanagement are removed from office and barred from participating in future elections.”
After the 2008 disputed election runoff described by the international community as a sham election, ACT-Southern Africa produced a report on how the electoral commissions of Zimbabwe and Kenya conducted the process, recommending that the two be held responsible for the loss of lives and displacements of people.