Zec urged to embrace all languages Rtd Maj Gen Happyton Bonyongwe
Happyton Bonyongwe

Happyton Bonyongwe

Pamela Shumba, Senior Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) should advertise their programmes in all the country’s official 16 languages so that everyone understands electoral processes ahead of the 2018 elections, the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Retired Major General Happyton Bonyongwe, has said.

Responding to questions in Parliament on Wednesday, Rtd Maj Gen Bonyongwe said Zec should educate people in languages they understand so that they make informed decisions.

“I understand that Zec is putting out advertisements to educate people throughout the country in preparation for the elections to be held in 2018.

“People should be educated in the languages that they understand. It could be an advantage if the advertisements are done using all the 16 languages in the country.

“I hope the Zec officials will take note of what we’re saying because they have to educate people so that they know what is good for them and what is required of them when they go for registration. I hope that Zec will improve on their advertisements so that when people are educated, they will make decisions based on the knowledge given to them,” said Rtd Maj Gen Bonyongwe.

Although Zec is not using the 16 languages to advertise their programmes, the Minister said he was impressed with the voter education programme currently underway.

“From my understanding and also as someone who follows issues as they are articulated through the press, there is a voter awareness programme, a voter education programme which is currently under way. That is a fact,” said Rtd Maj Gen Bonyongwe.

“With regards to the process which is on-going, that information is going out day in and day out in the print and the electronic media to cover the process to ensure that Zimbabweans go out there and register to vote.”

The Minister said this while responding to MPs who had said Zec was not reaching out to everyone.

Highfield East MP Mr Erick Murai said there was a lot of confusion in constituencies due to language barriers.

“We are in the process of registering people through the Biometric Voter Registration so that we prepare for the 2018 elections but there is a lot of confusion in our constituencies. People would want to know the required documents for anybody to be registered.

“The reason why there is this confusion is that the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) adverts being broadcast, most of them are done in English. I suggest that we hold more advertisements in our 16 languages so that the people who are the beneficiaries will understand,” he said.

Warren Park MP Engineer Elias Mudzuri said: “We plead with you to move around in your capacity and also take the Minister of Home Affairs. Can you move around Chitungwiza and listen to what people are saying.

“You will notice that people are not aware of the registration exercise, they are in the dark.” — @pamelashumba1

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