The High Court has blocked the release of Zimbabwe’s electronic voters roll to the public noting that this was a matter of national security that should see the document protected from manipulation.
This follows a court challenge filed by Citizens Coalition for Change MP, Allan Makharm after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) refused to give him a copy that he requested last year.
Among reasons cited by the opposition lawmaker in requesting for the document was that he wanted the roll to track trends in the delimitation report.
He said as a sitting legislator, his interest in the document was pertinent.
Makharm also said an electronic copy was ideal as printed one would be inconvenient and too expensive for him.
In response, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) argued the release of the electronic voters roll would expose the document to manipulation.
He cited firebrand cyber based pressure group, Team Pachedu that has brought continued discomfort to the country’s poll management authority through pointing out glaring irregularities in ZEC’s operations amid alleged bias towards the ruling Zanu PF party.”
