ZEC set to receive US$20 million Justice Rita MakarauPeter Matambanadzo Senior Reporter The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission will receive US$20 million today from the Ministry of Finance as preparations for the harmonised elections set for July 31 intensify. Zec chairperson Justice Rita Makarau assured the nation in an interview yesterday that the commission was working hard to ensure that all logistics for the elections were in place by July 27. “We are making efforts to make sure that this time around we do not have these same problems,” she said, referring to the logistical challenges that characterised the special voting on Sunday and Monday. “That is why we are so busy, now you hardly can see us. We are busy putting logistics in place at least four days before 31 July. “We should have everything in stock and accounted for by the 27th of July, which is next week Saturday and we should be able to tell the nation that everything is ready.” Justice Makarau said all the ballot papers and ink as well as other material required during the voting process would be distributed to the various polling stations countrywide on time. “We should start moving them from Monday and Tuesday so that we are able to open our polling stations at 7am sharp on the polling day,” she said. Justice Makarau said all the civil servants who failed to vote during the two-day special voting would be allowed to cast their vote on July 31. “We have restored them to the ordinary roll so that they are able to vote on July 31,” she said. “We have made representations to the Officer Commanding Zimbabwe Republic Police to implore him to deploy them in such a way that they will be in their wards of their registration, performing duties so that they are able to vote.” Justice Makarau said to date, Zec had received a total of US$38 million out of a budget of US$133 million it presented to Government. “This afternoon I talked to Secretary for Finance Mr (Willard) Manungo. He has indicated that he will release a further US$20 million tomorrow (today) with further distributions during the week so that we have enough funding for the elections,” she said. Justice Makarau dismissed allegations that the military had taken over running the polls and explained the chaotic situation during the special vote. “What happened during the special vote, which caused that state of affairs is that Zec received ballot papers late and in some wards it did not receive anything at all,” she said. Justice Makarau said it was the late printing of ballot papers that caused the problems owing to power outages experienced by Printflow. “We had been assured by Printflow, but they did not deliver on time,” she said. “That was the cause of all the chaotic scenes that then appeared because we were unable to give the members of the forces their ballot papers on time.” Justice Makarau said all Zec presiding and polling officers were on time at polling stations and if the ballot papers were provided on time there would not have been any problem. Speaking in a live interview on Star FM yesterday, Zec commissioner Dr Petty Makoni said they would continue to protect the secrecy of the vote as they did during the special voting. “The electorate should appreciate the fact that Zec was meticulous and will continue to be meticulous to protect the secrecy of the votes,” she said. “Those envelopes (for special votes) will only be opened in their respective constituencies. People can go to the HICC and observe us opening the envelopes putting them in their respective constituencies.” Zec, Dr Makoni said, was prepared for harmonised elections and that everyone in the queue and eligible to vote would be served on the day of voting. She urged Zimbabweans to be peaceful and be exemplary to the region and the world. - Herald
Posted on: Thu, 18 Jul 2013 07:30:50 +0000