The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has on Tuesday lifted a ban on voter registration but said by-elections would remain suspended due to the lingering threat paused by Covid-19.
ZEC chief elections officer Utloile Silaigwana said in a statement voter registration, which is an ongoing exercise all year round, and “some fieldwork” will commence on April 1, 2021, following the easing of lockdown restrictions.
“However, in view of the danger still posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the need to uphold some health provisions of Statutory Instrument 10 of 2021, which are still in force, the conduct of by-elections remains suspended,” Silaigwana said.
“This position will be reviewed in due course and stakeholders will be advised, accordingly.”
The commission, Silaigwana said, was advising all citizens who qualify to register as voters and those wishing to transfer their registrations to visit voter registration centers at ZEC provincial and district centers.
Dozens of parliamentary and council by-elections are long overdue after the incumbents either died or were recalled in the ongoing acrimonious wrangle between the MDC Alliance and the rival MDC-T.
The MDC Alliance recalls have left 39 vacancies in the legislature and 81 in local councils.
Source: Zimlive