THE Douglas Mwonzora-led MDC has accused the ruling Zanu PF and Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) of reversing the gains made over the years in the era of the late Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
In a statement, MDC spokesperson Lloyd Damba denounced announcements by Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs minister Ziyambi Ziyambi that government was transferring duties of drawing ward and constituency boundaries from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) to the Civil Registry Department.
Ziyambi last week also revealed that the Civil Registry Department will also handle voter registration using information from people’s ID cards to register them automatically, especially when one turns 18.
“This means that Zanu-PF is bringing back the old Lancaster House Constitution and reviving Tobaiwa Mudede and the dreaded National Elections Directorate,” Damba said.
“The use of these bodies was one of the fundamental reforms that the MDC fought for until we had the current Zec system.
“The current crop of CCC MPs is colluding with Zanu PF to reverse the electoral reform gains that we pushed for during the constitution making process.
“Now they want to give back power to the Executive to run elections, something we refused because of the problems of ghost voters.”
However, CCC spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi yesterday dismissed Damba’s claims adding that their point is to advocate for proper electoral reforms before the next coming election.
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“Our thrust is to rally citizens to fight for electoral reforms before the next election. No election will be held under these problematic conditions ever again,” he said.
CCC legislator Corban Madzivanyika, however, said the electoral reforms were a good development.
“When you are 18 years, you are automatically registered. There is no need for you to go and physically register. I think it is a good development. It can be proper; it can be efficient.
“There will be voter manipulation. If you are under 18 years, but the election will be a great disappointment.
“The idea will be trying to suppress the young voters, because they know the young voters have the capacity to change the political landscape in terms of voting.”
He also supported the moving of the system from Zec adding that the voter registration will be authentic.
“The reason behind it is that the Civil Registry records the births and deaths. You know, when a person dies, the voter registration will be authentic.”
Zanu PF communications director Farai Marapira also dismissed Damba’s claims.
“Society is moving so we should continue changing the Constitution so it remains holding democracy and respecting the will of the people and keeping it respecting the citizens who elected legislators to Parliament,” he said.
