Frequently Asked Questions

What is needed to register?

Proof of Identification/ citizenship

Be a Zimbabwean citizen

• Proof of identity that is a Zimbabwe national registration identity document (metal, plastic or green waiting pass), or
• A valid Zimbabwe passport
• Proof of residence

You must also have a proof of residence in any one of the following forms:

• Sworn-in affidavit form
• Utility bills in your name
• Credit statements in your name
• Letter from the landlord
• Letter from employer
• Letter parents confirming that you reside with them
• Lodger’s permit
• Title deeds
• Certificate of occupation
• Letter with Post Office markings reflecting your address
• Letter from village head or chief confirming your residence
• Clinic card
• Letter from the mine owner
• Letter from your Pastor

WHY IS THE COMMISSION REJECTING DRIVER’S LICENCES AS PROOF OF RESIDENCE?

National Driver’s license can be awarded to non-Zimbabwean national hence you are encouraged or required to carry your valid passport or Zimbabwe ID metal or plastic or waiting pass with the photograph.

I LOST MY NATIONAL ID WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO?

The Registrar-General’s Department on the 4^th of September — rolled out a three-month national mobile registration exercise for national identity cards, birth and death certificates in preparation for voter-registration. The registration will run until November 30, 2017. Mobile registration centres will open at 7am and close at 7pm from Monday to Friday. During weekends, the Registrar General’s offices start at 7am and close at 4pm. It will not be possible for anybody to go to elections next year without the documents and argue that she or he was never allowed to register.

WHAT ARE THE SCHEDULED DATES FOR BIOMETRIC VOTER REGISTRATION BLITZ PHASE THREE?

BVR blitz phase three started on the 16^th of November to the 1^st December 2017

WHY DO I NEED TO REGISTER?

To vote in the elections, you must be a registered voter. Voters will be required to register with the ZEC to be able to vote on polling day. Note that everyone is registering afresh despite having been a registered voter in 2013.

WHEN DOES REGISTRATION PROCESS END?

According to the Presidential Proclamation Statutory Instrument 109/2017, voter registration shall end on the 15^th of January 2018. However, in accordance with Section 36A (2) of the Electoral Act, continuous registration will continue after conclusion of the new registration period, and the continuous registration shall be conducted based on the new voters roll.

WHAT DO I DO, I MISSED TO REGISTER DURING THE PREVIUOS PHASES?

You can register anywhere in Zimbabwe during the registration period and you only have to register once.

Why is Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) taking our finger prints and photographs? Is secrecy of the vote guaranteed?

The ZEC has introduced a new registration system called the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR). Biometric voter registration entails capturing a person’s fingerprints, facial features, and identity card details. This rules out any chances of double voting and identity theft. No person will vote on behalf of some one. Voting is scheduled to happen using the old method of physically voting on a ballot paper.

Is the process still taking long as earlier reported?

Voter Registration has greatly since its commencement in September. It is taking an average of five minutes for one to register. Here are the steps that you follow when you register at any polling station. You are expected to complete the registration data form known as the VR.1 form. The registration form is available at the registration centres. It is also available at ZEC district offices. The form can also be downloaded online from ZEC website www.zec.gov.zw.

After completion you submit your data form, proof of identity and proof or residence to the ZEC officer for data capture. You then have your biometric features captured by the ZEC officer. The ZEC officer will tell you how to have your fingerprints and photograph taken as part of the process for registration.

After the process you receive a registration slip to confirm your registration. Keep the registration slip in a safe place as a record of your registration and which polling station you are assigned for voting.

I registered in 2013 do I need to register again?

ZEC is currently in the process of creating a new voter’s roll which will be used during the 2018 elections, which thereby discards the previous 2013 voters roll. To be eligible to vote in 2018 everyone is supposed to register afresh biometrically. You will not be able allowed to vote in 2018 as your name will not be in the new voters’ roll that the Commission is going to come up with after registering people.

What is being done to assist people with disabilities?

If you have any disability and need help with the forms or any part of the registration process inform the ZEC officer at the registration center.

What happens if I change my current address? Will I still be allowed to vote?

The Commission after the completion of the registration process will conduct the inspection of the voters’ roll. During that time you will be able to notify them about the change of address. You are supposed to complete the VR.3 form that is the voter transfer form.

When is phase three of the blitz beginning?

The third segment of the Bio metric voter registration blitz runs from the 16^th of November to the 1^st of December 2017. The fourth phase which is the last will be conducted from the 4^th to the 19^th of December 2017.

WHEN SHOULD ELECTION DAYS BE PROCLAIMED?

The President has the authority to announce the date for the 2018 Elections within the parameters established by the Constitution if Zimbabwe and the Electoral Act regarding the duration between the proclamation of elections and the polling date.

Section 158 (1)a) Constitution of Zimbabwe states that: a general election must be held so that polling takes place not more than thirty days before the expiry of the five-year period.

Section 38 of the Electoral Act stipulates a maximum 84 days between proclamation and polling.

The President was sworn in on the 22nd August 2013. The Parliament of Zimbabwe’s five-year ends at midnight on 21 August 2018.

WHEN SHOULD THE NOMINATION COURT SIT?

Section 157 (3) Constitution of Zimbabwe states:

The Electoral Law must provide for the nomination of candidates in any election to take place at least 14 days after the publication of the proclamation calling for that election.

WHAT IS THE DURATION OF THE NOMINATION COURT SITTING?

There is no prescribed duration for the sitting of the nomination court, however the nomination courts sits for 1 day.

WHEN DOES THE OFFICIAL CAMPAIGN PERIOD START AND END?

Section 38 (1) a) i) Electoral Act states:

..at least fourteen and not more than twenty-one days after the day of publication of the proclamation, on which a nomination court shall sit for the purpose of receiving nominations of candidates for election

WHEN SHOULD ZEC HAVE A FINALIZED VOTERS ROLL?

Section 26A Electoral Act

No person shall be registered as a voter for the purposes of voting unless he or she lodges a claim for registration or transfer of registration no later than twelve days after the nomination day

There is no prescribed date for the ZEC to have a finalized voters roll, however twelve days after nomination court the voter roll is closed. After the closure of voter registration the voters roll may be released.

What are the VR.1, VR.5 and VR.9 forms that we hear about?

1. 1 form is the Initial Voter Registration Form that you are required to fill in for you to be able to register to vote. The form must be accompanied by a proof of residence or a VR. 9 form as explained below. The VR.1 form is the form where one’s personal information must be stated. Columns on the VR.1 form require one to state the following, National ID number, surname and forenames as indicated on one’s national ID, date of birth, your sex, house number or stand number or plot number or village name, you then enter street name or farm name or headman after that there is a column that requires you to enter your suburb or farming area or mine name or chief. You are also required to fill in the name of town or district, your phone or cell number and email address. For those that have special needs there is a column were you indicate your special needs. Lastly you enter the signature and date.

VR.5 form is the form a Chief Elections Officer or a Voter Registration Officer is supposed to give you as notice of objection to one’s registration.

VR.9 form is an Affidavit of Residence form that may accompany the VR.1 form in the absence of a proof of residence. The form also cautions you about consequences of providing false information in terms of section 10 of the Justices and Peace and Commissioners of Oaths Act [Chapter 7:09]. On the form you are also required to provide your residential address and there are four options that you can indicate your residence on (a) you indicate your village or resettlement area, the name of your village head, headman, chief and district. On (b) you indicate house number or stand number, street, suburb and town. On (c) you enters name of school/hospital/mine or other institution and also provide the name or manager of the school/hospital/mine or other institution. On (d) which is the last is the (other) the deponent is expected to give full details of the address. You are also required to put your signature and the date. The Commissioner of Oaths must sign the form.

How come in Dzivarasekwa we only have one registration center?

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), has divided the voter registration blitz into four phase. The first phase began on the 10th of October and will end on the 26^th of October. Each phase has a total of 16 days. The second phase will run from 29 October to 13 November 2017 while the third phase will run from the 16th of November to the 1st of December 2017. The last segment will run from the 4th of December to the 19th of December 2017.Dzivarasekwa is under phase four hence you will have more centers from the 4^th of December to the 19^th of September but for now you can as well go to any other center nationwide and register to vote.