By Ruzvidzo Chimyanganya
Zimbabwe is a country that has been plagued by political and economic crises for decades. Since its independence in 1980, it has held several elections that have been marred by violence, fraud, and controversy. One of the main sources of electoral malpractice in Zimbabwe is the manipulation of the voters roll, which is a list of registered voters who are entitled to cast ballots in an election. The voters roll is supposed to serve as a tool to prevent fraud, ensure inclusiveness, and facilitate administration. However, in Zimbabwe, it has been used as a weapon to rig elections, disenfranchise voters, and undermine democracy.
The problems with the voters roll in Zimbabwe are well documented and widely acknowledged.
The voters roll in Zimbabwe has been notorious for containing ghost voters, dead voters, duplicate voters, and missing voters. According to various reports and audits, the voters roll has been inflated with millions of names that do not correspond to actual or eligible voters. It has also been riddled with errors and inaccuracies, such as wrong names, addresses, ID numbers, or polling stations. These problems have resulted from poor maintenance, lack of resources, or deliberate tampering by the authorities.
The voters roll in Zimbabwe has been shrouded in secrecy and inaccessible to the public and the opposition parties. The authorities have often refused or delayed to release the voters roll or provide copies to stakeholders who request it. They have also failed to allow adequate inspection or verification of the voters roll by independent observers or auditors. These problems have resulted from political interference, legal obstacles, or technical difficulties.
The voters roll in Zimbabwe has been delivered or distributed very late or not at all before elections. The authorities have often failed to meet the deadlines or comply with the regulations for providing the voters roll to stakeholders who need it. They have also failed to update or correct the voters roll in time for elections. These problems have resulted from logistical challenges, administrative inefficiencies, or intentional sabotage.
The manipulation of the voters roll in Zimbabwe has been one of the main strategies used by the ruling party, ZANU PF, to maintain its grip on power and suppress the opposition. By inflating, falsifying, or withholding the voters roll, ZANU PF has been able to create an uneven playing field, disenfranchise potential opposition supporters, inflate its own vote share, and claim victory in disputed elections.
The international community, especially the Southern African Development Community (SADC), has been largely ineffective in addressing the issue of the voters roll in Zimbabwe. SADC is a regional bloc that aims to promote peace, security, democracy, and development in Southern Africa. It has adopted several instruments and mechanisms to monitor and support electoral processes in its member states, such as the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections and the SADC Electoral Observation Mission.
However, SADC has failed to enforce its own standards and principles when it comes to Zimbabwe’s elections. It has often turned a blind eye to the irregularities and violations that have occurred with the voters roll and other aspects of electoral management. It has also failed to sanction or reprimand Zimbabwe for choosing a path of solidarity and stability over democracy. This was revealed in its response to Zimbabwe’s violations of its own electoral law as well as the SADC Principles and Guidelines, including media access laws and regulations pertaining to the voters roll.
One of the reasons why SADC has been lenient towards Zimbabwe is the influence of South Africa, which is the most powerful and influential member of the bloc. South Africa has played a key role in mediating and facilitating dialogue between ZANU PF and the opposition parties in Zimbabwe since 2007. However, South Africa has also been accused of being complicit in Zimbabwe’s electoral malpractices by adopting a soft approach and a policy of “quiet diplomacy”. South Africa has often prioritized its economic and strategic interests over its democratic values when dealing with Zimbabwe. It has also avoided confronting ZANU PF for fear of destabilizing the region or losing its leverage.
We hope this blog post has shed some light on how stealing elections through voters roll has affected Zimbabwe’s democracy and stability.
References:
· Chikohomero, R. (2019). Elections and stability in SADC: the Zimbabwe case. Policy Brief, Institute for Security Studies. https://www.africaportal.org/documents/19075/Elections_and_stability_in_SADC.pdf
· Chiroro, B. (2013). The voters’ roll in Zimbabwe’s 2013 harmonised elections: A technical perspective. Journal of African Elections, 12(2), 8-30. https://www.eisa.org/pdf/JAE12.2Chiroro.pdf
· Masunungure, E.V. (2014). The 2013 harmonized elections in Zimbabwe: The last mile of the inclusive government. In E.V. Masunungure & J. Shumba (Eds.), Zimbabwe’s 2013 Harmonized Elections: A Crisis Deferred? (pp. 1-22). Konrad Adenauer Stiftung. https://www.kas.de/documents/252038/253252/7_dokument_dok_pdf_36828_2.pdf/5c6f8a0a-9f0b-6e1c-ea0b-5d6e7f5c8c6d?version=1.0&t=1539642278399
· Matyszak, D. (2018). All at sea: Voter registration and the 2018 elections in Zimbabwe. Research and Advocacy Unit. http://researchandadvocacyunit.org/system/files/All%20at%20Sea%20-%20Voter%20Registration%20and%20the%202018%20Elections%20in%20Zimbabwe.pdf
· Moyo, G., & Ndlovu-Gatsheni, S.J. (2017). Mugabeism after Mugabe? Rethinking legacies and possibilities in Zimbabwe. Third World Thematics: A TWQ Journal, 2(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1080/23802014.2017.1310084
· Ndlovu-Gatsheni, S.J., & Mhlanga, B. (2013). Introduction: Election processes, liberation movements and democratic change in Africa: An overview. In S.J. Ndlovu-Gatsheni & B. Mhlanga (Eds.), Election Processes, Liberation Movements and Democratic Change in Africa (pp. 1-18). Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
· Raftopoulos, B., & Savage, T. (2004). Zimbabwe: Injustice and political reconciliation. Weaver Press.
· SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC) (2018). Report of the SADC Electoral Advisory Council on the assessment of the readiness of the Republic of Zimbabwe to conduct the harmonized elections scheduled for 30 July 2018.
· SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (Revised 2015). https://www.sadc.int/files/5714/3949/7419/SADC_Principles_and_Guidlines_Governing_Democratic_Elections_2015.pdf
