By A Correspondent| The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is headed for a big fight with opposition parties following its warning that by-elections could be suspended in the absence of a ZWL$12 Billion funding request to the national treasury.
The recall of tens of legislators and hundreds of councilors by an MDC faction fronted by Thokozani Khupe has created hundreds of vacant seats in parliament and local authorities, with the gaps only filled through by-elections.
The by-elections could not be held this year due to COVID-19 pandemic induced lockdown which restricted large gatherings.
ZEC chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana made the remarks Thursday while appearing before a post-budget consultative meeting with the Parliamentary Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.
ZEC told the committee it was financially crippled to meet its electoral obligations and pleaded with Parliament to persuade Treasury to adjust the commission’s 2021 budget allocation otherwise the much awaited by-elections will not see the light of the day.
“We are very truthful when we say we need $12 billion instead of the $2 billion which is just a drop of our budget. It does not help us much,” Silaigwana said.
“We also highlighted that the allocation was not adequate to support our programmes that encompasses delimitation and the by-elections for the coming year and beyond.
“What was allocated against the bid is only a total of 19% hence our cry for the committee to assist the commission so that it will be able to realise it’s obligations.” added Silaigwana.
ZEC chief inspector Jane Pamhidzirai Chigidji weighed in saying the commission’s capacity to conduct credible electoral activities will be questionable if it was poorly resourced.
“It’s a drop in the ocean when we have to have a credible election. So we are just appealing to Parliament to discuss this issue so that at the end of the day we are able to carry out our duties and bring up a credible election.
“There are delimitation issues that have to be dealt with before we have an election. Can we then have a credible election if we don’t consult stakeholders?” said Pamhidzai.