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Justice Rita Makarau

Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) is working independently and does not share data with other Government departments, the commission’s chairperson Justice Rita Makarau has said.

Justice Makarau said this while dismissing false reports suggesting that the commission was causing the arrest of people wanted for different crimes when they visit its centres to register as voters.

She said Zec was not taking people’s fingerprints in the ongoing Biometric Voter Registration programme in order to facilitate their arrest.

Addressing traditional leaders during the Annual Chiefs Conference in Bulawayo on Friday, the Zec chairperson said the electoral commission has received false reports suggesting that Zec was causing the arrest of wanted persons.

Justice Makarau dismissed the claims and urged traditional leaders to encourage people in areas under their jurisdiction to register as voters as Zec enters Phase Two of BVR programme which started yesterday and ends on November 13.

“As chiefs let’s encourage our subjects to register as voters, there is nothing that the electorate should be afraid of when it comes to biometric registration.

We’ve also heard rumours that those with criminal records are afraid to register as voters because the process involves fingerprinting. They think that fingerprinting exposes their crimes resulting in police arresting them on site.

“I want to assure you that there is nothing like that. The fingerprints that we are obtaining as Zec are used by us as an independent commission.

“We do not share the information with other Government departments,” she  said.

Justice Makarau said over 1,1 million people have since registered to vote with seven million voters targeted in the BVR programme expected to end in January.

Matabeleland provinces have the least number of registered voters. Justice Makarau said Zec was aware that most of the people are facing challenges producing proof of residence. She urged chiefs to facilitate that people obtain proof of residence.

In urban centres, she said, commissioners of oath are now stationed at the registration centres to assist those without proof of residence.

Justice Makarau said she was happy that the president of the Chiefs Council, Chief Fortune Charumbira, has dismissed rumours that traditional leaders were demanding payment to confirm individuals’ proof of residence.

She said Zec would engage Chief Charumbira if any cases of corruption involving chiefs emerge.

“I will request your permission that when we hear a rumour suggesting that a certain chief or village head is demanding payment to confirm a villager’s proof of residence, as Zec we should write to you so that you can investigate the matter,” said Justice Makarau.