Tendai Kamhungira<\/p>\n
HARARE – Opposition parties have petitioned the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec), challenging Registrar-General (RG) Tobaiwa Mudede\u2019s pronouncement that metal identity cards (IDs) will not be used in the voter registration process ahead of the 2018 elections.<\/p>\n
Coalescing under the National Electoral Reforms Agenda (Nera) Youth Forum banner, the parties argue that in terms of electoral regulations, the RG is not qualified to make any official pronouncements on election related issues.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe applaud the announcement by the RG that a nationwide programme of issuing out registration documents, particularly birth certificates and national identity cards will be commencing on Monday, September 4, 2017 in preparation of the oncoming biometric voter registration.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, we are greatly disturbed by the remarks that holders of metal identity cards will have to replace their IDs with plastic ones to be able to vote. The registrar cites that the metal IDs are not machine readable hence the need for holders of the same to replace them,\u201d Nera Youth Forum head of information and publicity, Davis Mukushwa, said in an August 31 letter.<\/p>\n