Voters` Inspection Update:

Youths concerned as their names are not in the Voters` Roll

By Bongiwe Dube

Young people determined to make their voices heard by taking part in the upcoming August 2023 elections have challenged the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to urgently solve the Voters` Roll crisis that has seen a number of registered youths failing to access their names in the Voters` Roll during the ongoing Voters` Roll Inspection that has been extended to the 1^st of June 2023.

Speaking on the sidelines during an Election Debate Series conducted by CYDT this week in Gwanda, young people who have been working tirelessly to mobilise their peers to register to vote said it is concerning that their efforts may go up in vain as many of their peers have told them that they did not find their details upon checking them online and visiting their polling stations.

“One of the youths I personally helped register in March just told me he did not find his details on the Voters` Roll. This is despite the fact that he has previously checked his details and accessed them online,” one concerned youth said.

Another youth said he had also tried checking his details but failed to access them online and was going to visit his polling station to also check and verify.

“Now my biggest concern is that the President may announce the election date anytime. This means that we will not be able to practice our right to vote in August. I am so angry but I`m still hopeful that ZEC will deal with this mess.”

The youth suggested that there was need for the election date announcement to be delayed further until ZEC deals with all the challenges it is facing to ensure that all people registered to vote are able to practice their right to vote in August.

Since March this year, CYDT has been conducting voter registration campaign under an initiative dubbed the “Tell A Friend Campaign” in which youth leaders in Gwanda, Beitbridge and Umzingwane went around their communities, mobilising their peers to register to vote.

Hundreds of youths have so far registered to vote under this fruitful drive. The organisation urges the electoral body to deal with the issues it is currently facing which will increase young people`s confidence in them.

ENDS//