Fungai Lupande-Mashonaland Central Bureau
THE voters’ roll is set for a significant overhaul as the Government prepares to transfer its custody back to the Registrar-General’s Office through the Zimbabwe Population Registry System.
This integrated digital platform will automatically update birth and death records in real time.
Addressing Zanu PF members after a Special Provincial Coordinating Committee virtual meeting yesterday, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe, said the computerised system would revolutionise the management of the voters’ roll by ensuring continuous, accurate and up-to-date information.
The meeting, attended by senior party officials from Harare, unpacked Constitutional Amendment No. 3 ahead of nationwide consultations.
Cde Kazembe explained that ZPPRS centralises national data, allowing automatic updates when citizens reach voting age or when deaths are registered.
“The system ensures that information is accurate at any given time. Updates on death registration and those attaining voting age are automatic and in real time,” he said.
Historically, the voters’ roll was housed under the Registrar-General’s Office before changes made during the COPAC constitutional reform process.
“The voters’ roll was traditionally resident with the Registrar-General’s Office and was changed during the COPAC agreement through a constitutional amendment,” Cde Kazembe said.
“The development had shortfalls and challenges. The good thing about taking the voters’ roll back to the Registrar-General is that they have records of everyone.
“They issue birth certificates, national identity cards and death certificates. Information is accessible at the click of a button and the Registrar-General’s Office will not conduct the election.”
Cde Kazembe added that opposition parties had previously pushed for the removal of the voters’ roll from the Registrar-General’s Office due to political differences with former Registrar-General Mr Tobaiwa Mudede.
He said Constitutional Amendment No. 3 would also facilitate the creation of a delimitation commission and address concerns regarding the country’s election cycle.
Cde Kazembe added that frequent elections have kept the nation in a perpetual campaign mode, which impedes development.
“We were living for elections, and elections had become a business for others. The vicious cycle started with internal party elections, including district coordinating committees, followed by primary elections before harmonised elections.
“There was no rest; it was fight after fight,” he said.
Turning to presidential elections, Cde Kazembe said they have often been manipulated by Western countries and their allies to destabilise African nations.
“House of Assembly election results often remain uncontested while the President is subjected to humiliation, yet he leads the most popular party,” he said.
Cde Kazembe cited regional examples where presidential polls allegedly triggered unrest, arguing that some countries, like South Africa, elect Presidents through parliamentary processes rather than direct national votes.
“South Africa has no direct election, and the party with the majority seats chooses the President,” he said.
Mashonaland Central vice chairman Cde Christopher Magomo argued that extending the election cycle would allow the country to focus on long-term development.
“Projects that were lagging behind were fast-tracked under the National Development Strategy 1.
“These projects will be completed following the extension of the election cycle,” he said.
“We are aiming for Vision 2030, and this extension will allow continuity. The Harare-Kanyemba Road and four dams were started by the President, and they will be completed.”
Cde Magomo added that the country had recorded significant achievements, including improved food security, making the amendment a welcome development.
Some participants proposed extending the election cycle to up to 10 years.
Women’s League chairperson Cde Tsitsi Gezi announced that the League had begun ward-level meetings to disseminate accurate information on Constitutional Amendment No. 3.
Politburo member Cde Kenneth Musanhi urged party members in the province to unite and counter misinformation surrounding the proposed changes.
The province plans to hold inter-district engagements on Saturday, followed by district meetings to further disseminate information ahead of the consultation process.
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