Parliament takes Mnangagwa to task over biometric voter registration

*HON. MNANGAGWA:  Mr. Speaker, as Government, I think we have explained that we have not cut our relationship with the UNDP or partnership.  All the monies that come in through UNDP are channeled to other sectors where we do not have the funds, but there are certain things that, as the owners of the nation, we should take care of and as Government, we felt that it is our duty to find funds for acquiring the machines.  What surprises me is that you are against the fact that we need to take ownership of some of these processes.

UNDP is assisting.  They do not come here to assist in everything.  There are things that they are assisting with.  Ask the Minister of Health and Child Care who will give you the money that is being brought in through UNDP to assist the health sector.  I thank you.

*HON. ZVIZWAI:  Thank you Mr. Speaker.  The whole country is aware of the fact that Zimbabwe is in partnership with the EU on three issues; on working with ZEC, the issue of capacity building that you talked about, as well as voter education and voter registration.  As we journey along, ZEC and the partners are now in the process of voter registration.

ZEC in partnership with the European Union flighted an advertisement in the press that they are now procuring BVR kits.  The statement was made by ZEC.  The first thing they did was, they advertised. Secondly, they opened tenders and then thirdly, they short listed vendors.  Under the short-listing system, the Government then backtracked and said no, we do not want you to do that.  We are going to do the procurement on our own.  You are aware of the fact that our elections are marked with unfairness and conflict.  What has caused the Government to backtrack on this partnership?  What has made you ensure that the partners do not procure the BVR?

The letter is available.  You had already been appointed.  For now, let us leave the letter issue because I will bring it.  My question, Hon. Speaker is, why is the Government now taking over from ZEC?  Will ZEC maintain its independence when the Government is taking over?  Why can ZEC not complete the process as we agreed so that it is not under any Ministry or Government and that it remains an independent institution as we agreed?

HON. MNANGAGWA:  Mr. Speaker, the Hon. Member is forgetting that ZEC was not constituted by the EU or UNDP.  It was established through the Constitution of Zimbabwe.  ZEC is funded by Government.  In the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Act, we have a provision which says, where they want to have partnership or access to foreign assistance, they must clear.  It is not the other way round.  Our money from Treasury does not at anytime, go into the European basket or UNDP basket.  That is false.  We support and finance ZEC ourselves.

In areas where we feel we have no capacity, we allow them to cooperate with partners to be assisted but only, after clearance, in terms of the law which sets up ZEC.  So, there is no question of ZEC belonging or having been formed by an outside entity other than the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe and the laws passed by this honourable House.  I thank you.

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