The ZEC BVR Blitz
ZEC undertook a final nationwide mobile Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) between the 12th and the 26th of
March. The BVR blitz was marred by lack of preparedness and technical glitches as the shortage of electricity
affected the registration blitz at some centres. The BVR kits require electricity to function, and the cloudy
weather conditions in some parts of the country affected the solar-powered BVR kits. In Lobengula, Magwegwe
at Konron Centre several potential new voters were turned away over lack of equipment. At Konron, Entumbane
Hall, Rhodonite and Malaika centres there was a continued breakdown of machines across the board resulting
in a significant loss of man hours. Almost all registration centres in Harare experienced machine down times.
In Ward 35 Gutu Central the machine at Mabhugu Primary school malfunctioned and started working only at
3pm and consequently only seven people were registered. The affected people were asked to follow the ZEC
registration officers to the next centre the following day at Mushayavanhu, where they were stuck in the queue
the whole day because the machine malfunctioned and only 3 people managed to be registered. In Manicaland
province prospective registrants were being turned away in Mutasa, Nyanga and Mutare Rural due to lack of
power. Many centres also reportedly ran out of thermal paper rolls used to print voter registration confirmation
receipts. The BVR Blitz was also marred with violence as Zanu PF activists assaulted 7 ZEC employees in
Epworth on 13 March for wearing yellow reflectors while conducting voter education. They were bundled into a
Commuter Omnibus and assaulted by the activists led by Kudakwashe Damson, a Zanu PF losing candidate in
the 2018 polls, before being dumped at Epworth Police Station. Both Damson and his co-accused Dennis Dausi
appeared before Harare Provincial Magistrate Mr Dennis Mangosi facing charges of contravening the Electoral
Act by obstructing ZEC proceedings and were both granted ZWL$50 000 bail. The poor implementation of the
BVR blitz negatively affected public confidence in the Commission to conduct elections. Zanu PF barred
Damson from contesting in the primary elections of the party on the basis of his actions in this incident.
Recommendations
1. ZEC critical stakeholders in civil society are urged to engage ZEC to appreciate some of the challenges
faced by the electorate as they try to initiate processes of exercising their political rights.
2. ZEC should be adequately resourced so that the commission is able to comprehensively conduct the 2023
electoral processes.
MARCH 2023
The Zimbabwe Peace Project Monthly Monitoring Report
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