The Voter Education “Ghost” in Zimbabwean Harmonised Elections of 2008 and 2013: What can be done? Case of Midlands, Gweru District

Type Journal Article - International Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Studies
Title The Voter Education “Ghost” in Zimbabwean Harmonised Elections of 2008 and 2013: What can be done? Case of Midlands, Gweru District
Author(s)
Volume 1
Issue 1
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2014
Page numbers 44-55
URL http://www.ijrhss.org/pdf/v1-i1/7.pdf
Abstract
Zimbabwean harmonised general elections of 2008 and 2013 have been marred with voting irregularities and mainly voter aparthy. There has been serious political constentations over the voter education practice with various stakeholders engaged in direct, formal as well as indirect and informal voter education. Despite political parties and Zimbabwe s Electoral Body- Zimbabwe Election Commission taking part in voter education, the results have been the same. Many people do not vote, many people are turned away from polling stations and many spoil their ballot papers. This research sought to find out the challenges and prospects of voter education in Zimbabwe with particular emphasis on Gweru District prior or during the 2008 and 2013 Harmonised Elections. The study also sought to understand and find out the challenges of voter education since the numerous concerns by the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), political parties and other stakeholders in the electoral process pertaining to voter apathy, spoilt ballots and voters turned away revolved around voter education. In view of the voter education problems noted it was imperative to look at prospects of voter education and make recommendations for improvement. The research adopted a qualitative approach and minimally made use of some quantitative data presentation and analysis techniques. Officials from CSOs and political parties that were operating in the Gweru District during the period under study were interviewed. The research found that voter education had limited duration, lack of adequate funding, lack of resources. ZEC was unprepared, the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) was not favourable to the other stakeholders such as CSOs and government failed to honour its mandated duties and obligations to ensure that ZEC was adequately funded and resourced. The major recommendation is that ZEC and other stakeholders such as CSOs should come up with a co-ordinated voter education so as to solve the challenges that were faced.

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