A Critical examination done by the Zimbabwe Election Support Network has revealed a grave presence of ghost voters in the current voter’s roll and a high level of voter education -ignorance among Zimbabweans.
ZESN defines ghost voters as not only of deceased persons in the voter’s roll but also of young people and names and addresses of completely non existant voters.
According to the research document the organisation officially launched in Harare on Thursday, 27% of the voters registered in the voter’s roll were deceased.
“The computer test revealed 2344 people born between 1901 and 1909 aged between 101 and 110 years old, and also revealed 9 people born between 1890 and 1900 aged between 111 and 120 years old,” said the report. The registrar’s office reportedly also denied ZESN access to the electronic voters’ roll.
Speaking in an interview on the sidelines of the function on Thursday in Harare , ZESN Chairperson Tinoziva Bere said the government should not privately clean up the shambled voter’s roll but rather engage all stakeholders in the pursuit of transparency and accountability.
ZESN recommended that there is an urgent need for voter education in the country, encouraging new voters to register.
The organisation said given that the current voter’s roll is in
shambles, there is need for the drawing up of a new voter’s roll which will improve the currency, accuracy and completeness of the voter’s roll.
The process, ZESN said should be transparent and inclusive to ensure that all eligible persons are registered.
The current voter registration requires that for one to be a registered voter he or she has to produce a proof of residence.
In this regard ZESN recommended that such requirements should be revised to enable urban dwellers and youths who do not own houses to register for voting.
The election monitoring watchdog said the government should fully capacitate the Zimbabwe Election Commission if it is serious about the holding of a credible election. The Registrar General, Tobaiwa Mudede(pictured) could not be reached for comment at the time of writing (ZimEye, Zimbabwe)
Muammar Gaddafi reaches 41 years in power
Lybia’s ruler Muammar Gaddafi reached a total 41 years in power today(Sunday).
The Lybian dictator (pictured) who dreams of uniting the African continent under his leadership has been at the helm of the Lybian presidency since the 16th January 1970 when he became premier of Libya. He has ruled the country ever since and now holds the title ‘Colonel’.
Gaddafi is now left with less than 24 months to become Africa’s longest serving ruler. 
At the moment the record is held by Gabon’s former President Omar Bongo, currently recorded as Africa’s longest dictator and who died at age 73 in 2009. Zimbabwe’s Robert Mugabe who is yet the world’s oldest ruler follows behind Gadaffi by ten years. (ZimEye, Zimbabwe)
Embattled Ivory Coast president sends envoy to Zimbabwe
Harare(ZimEye)-Members of the dreaded Central Intelligence Organization CIO on Thursday barred freelance journalists from covering the official visit of the embattled Ivorian Laurent Gbagbo’s envoy.
Gbagbo had sent his country’s ambassador to South Africa Dr Zoge Abie to brief the Zimbabwean President of the state of affairs of his troubled nation.
Members of the CIO denied access to Freelance journalists saying they were not invited for his event.
They were chased away from the government’s Munhumutapa offices where the visiting envoy met acting President John Nkomo and acting foreign affairs minister Hebert Murerwa.Freelance journalists later heard from sources that the state media were addressed by Information and Publicity permanent secretary George Charamba that ‘Dr Abie was in this country to brief the President about the state of affairs of his country’.
The envoy that is believed to been a regional tour to lure support ahead of the AU summit late this month flew out of Harare soon after meeting Acting President Nkomo to undisclosed destination.
Gbabgo, who has ruled the world’s biggest cocoa producer, was defeated in the November elections by Alassane Ouattara, who has set up his own parallel government while claiming he won the hotly disputed poll.
Like the ageing Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe, Gbabgo has the full backing of his country’s military and has adamantly refused to hand over power to Quattara braving fierce world pressure that has threatened to use force to remove him.
Gbagbo also claims he is under siege from western governments out to see him out of power.
He has likened his case to that of Mugabe, who also claims western governments want him out of power at all costs.
Gbagbo said the move to remove him militarily by Ecowas was the result of a Western plot directed by France and the United States, whose ambassadors he accuses of undermining Ivorian electoral procedures in order to propel Ouattara into power.(ZimEye, Zimbabwe)
Dabengwa to meet ZAPU members in London
London(ZimEye)ZAPU leader Dr Dumiso Dabengwa is set to address party members in London on the 14th of January, the party provincial Secretary for Information, Publicity and Marketing Mr Artwell Ndlovu has announced.
In a statement issued today Ndlovu invited all Zimbabweans to attend the meeting to be held in London on Friday 14 January 2011.
“You are all invited to attend a ZAPU General Meeting to be held in London (UK) on Friday 14 January 2011. The President of the Zimbabwe African People’s Union [ZAPU] Dr Dumiso Dabengwa and the Secretary General Dr Ralph Mguni will be addressing this meeting at 18:00hrs. The venue details will be confirmed in due course.“For you all who have greater vision and more realistic prospect lets rally behind the greatest leader of our times and give him the support and the mandate that he deserves to save country and bring affluence to Zimbabweans,” said Ndlovu.
Dr Dumiso Dabengwa was elected President of ZAPU during its 9th Congress in August 2010 held at Bulawayo Trade Fair grounds. Recently he was delisted from United States of America’s targeted sanctions and he [Dr D. Dabengwa] was also invited in Algiers to attend an international conference on the 13th December 2010 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of United Nation’s Adoption of Resolution 1524 -The Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples. (ZimEye, Zimbabwe)
MDC & ZAPU boycott Nyashanu burial
Harare(ZimEye)-Both MDC formations, including ZAPU heavy -weights boycotted the burial of the late National hero Nevison Nyashanu on Sunday.
The late former ZAPU deputy secretary General and Buhera North legislator Nyashanu died on the eve of the Boxing Day holiday at the age of 84 in Harare.
Only present at the event were members of the apostolic sect set who were holding pro-ZANU-PF banners and the party’s violent youths who sang and cheered.
The smaller MDC faction leader Arthur Mutambara who used to attend state functions which MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai would have boycotted was also not present.
Observers believe that Mutambara might have avoided the hero’s burial because of his internal party politics.
The party wants to replace him with Welshman Ncube, who is the current Secretary General.
President Mugabe who is on leave was also reluctant to attend the burial of the former ZAPU secretary general Nevison Nyashanu. John Nkomo who is the acting President graced the occasion.
In a traditional ZANU-PF style the Acting President castigated the west for refusing to lift sanctions.
“The west has no interests in this country besides defending their own interests. They want our land and natural resources and a government that protects their interests,” he said. (ZimEye, Zimbabwe)
GRACE MUGABE 53
Econet Dishes Shona Musicians USD28,000, Marathon-Winner USD1,500
By Showbiz Reporter | ZimEye | Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe – Econet Wireless has come under fire for alleged tribalism after it emerged that the company flew prominent Shona artists from Harare to perform in Victoria Falls, located in Matabeleland North, while excluding local talent from the region.
In a Facebook post, veteran broadcast journalist Ezra Tshisa Sibanda criticized Econet Wireless for neglecting local Matabeleland musicians in favor of artists from Harare. The post, which has sparked significant debate, accuses Econet of devaluing its customers in Matabeleland North and perpetuating tribal disparities.
“You are meant to be a national mobile network service provider yet you don’t value your customers nationwide,” Sibanda wrote. “To fly all Harare musicians to perform in Victoria Falls which is in Matabeleland North and leaving out local & Matabeleland musicians is a strong message that you don’t value people from this region.”
The event in question is the “Buddie Beatz Victory Show,” scheduled for July 7, 2024, at Baobab Primary School in Victoria Falls. The lineup features well-known artists such as Jah Prayzah, Winky D, Feli Nandi, Nutty O, Tocky Vibes, King Her, and Chiweddar DJ, all of whom are from Harare.
Sibanda’s post underscores the frustration felt by Matabeleland residents who feel overlooked and underappreciated. He emphasized that Matabeleland people, who use Econet’s services despite the high costs, deserve recognition and respect.
“Matabeleland people use your services which are so expensive just like all other Zimbabweans but your actions are evident enough you just want to milk their money and you don’t care, let alone value them,” he added.
The post has prompted a wave of reactions on social media, with many echoing Sibanda’s sentiments and calling for a more inclusive approach that respects the diverse cultural landscape of Zimbabwe.
As of the time of writing, Econet Wireless has not commented on the allegations. The silence from the telecommunications giant has only fueled the ongoing debate about tribal representation and fairness in Zimbabwe’s entertainment industry.
Calls for boycotts and demands for a response from Econet are growing louder as the community waits to see how the company will address these serious accusations.
For now, the spotlight remains on Econet Wireless and its handling of the situation, with many hoping for a resolution that promotes unity and respect for all Zimbabweans.
Developing Story…