IN a troubling development for voters, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has seemingly abandoned the Econet platform for checking voter registration status.
This decision raises concerns about accessibility for numerous potential voters across wards where they are by-elections.
In their latest Ballot Bulletin update, Zec urged prospective voters in ward 4 of Chiredzi Rural District Council to verify their registration status using the code “*265#” — a service available exclusively to NetOne subscribers — or through their online portal.
“The commission displays voters’ rolls two days before polling day to enable voters to verify their polling stations,” Zec wrote.
“Voters in areas with by-elections can alsoncheck their registration status using *265# for NET 1 subscribers only or online inspection link, bvrinspection.zec.org.zw.”
This is also happening in Chinhoyi ward 14 Alaska, where there is a by-election today.
Prospective voter Ishmael Banga said he was failing to check registration status using his Econet line.
“I failed to check my registration status using my Econet line,” he said.
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“I had to go and physically check at my polling station (Tariro Primary School). Fortunately, my name is on the voters roll.”
Despite attempts to obtain clarification from Zec regarding the rationale for this exclusion, no electoral body was not forthcoming.
The Election Resource Centre (ERC) expressed concern over the new development.
“The Election Resource Centre expresses concern over the *265# code’s limited accessibility to NetOne subscribers only,” said Babra Ontibile Bhebe, the executive director for ERC.
“We urge Zec to rectify this issue and ensure that subscribers of other networks have equal access to voter registration information.”
