By Advent Shoko | ZiGoats
The Election Resource Centre Africa (ERC Africa) has urged Zimbabwe’s Civil Registry Department and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to safeguard the accuracy, accessibility and credibility of the voters’ roll following the transfer of voter registration functions to the Registrar-General.
In a statement issued on 13 October 2026, the election watchdog welcomed the orderly transfer of responsibilities but warned that the changes must strengthen public confidence in the electoral system rather than create new barriers for eligible voters.
The transfer follows the enactment of Constitutional Amendment Act No. 3 of 2026, which moved voter registration and custody and maintenance of the voters’ roll from ZEC to the Registrar-General.
The change brings voter registration closer to the civil registration system, which maintains records of births, national identity documents and deaths.
Supporters of the arrangement argue that integrating these records could improve the identification of eligible voters, help remove deceased persons from the voters’ roll and address longstanding concerns about the accuracy of electoral records.
However, ERC Africa says the success of the new system will depend on transparency, proper verification, public access to registration services and clear accountability between the institutions involved.
“For ERC Africa, the key question is not simply who is responsible for voter registration and the voters roll, but whether the new administration enables every eligible citizen to have access without unnecessary barriers,” the organisation said.
It added that the transition should also address concerns previously raised by electoral stakeholders, including recommendations from election observer missions.
Ghost voters and accuracy concerns
The integrity of Zimbabwe’s voters’ roll has been a recurring issue in past elections, with concerns raised about deceased people remaining on electoral records and allegations involving so-called ghost voters.
The transfer to the Registrar-General could offer an opportunity to improve the verification of voter records because the civil registration system maintains information on deaths and other vital records.
In principle, matching electoral records against reliable civil registration data could help identify deceased persons who remain on the voters’ roll. However, the effectiveness of such checks will depend on accurate records, regular updates, proper verification and safeguards against mistakenly removing eligible voters.
ERC Africa is calling for an immediate voters’ roll inspection campaign to allow citizens to confirm their registration status and check their personal details and assigned polling stations.
The watchdog warned that verification is particularly important following the transfer, as it would help identify discrepancies and reassure voters that their information has been properly maintained.
It also recommended restoring the *265# USSD service and the online Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) inspection platform to enable citizens to check their registration details remotely.
Call for nationwide registration blitz
ERC Africa urged the Registrar-General to publish and regularly update a comprehensive list of voter registration centres, including their locations, operating days, hours and registration requirements.
The information should be widely disseminated through accessible channels so prospective voters can easily identify where and how to register.
The organisation also recommended a nationwide voter registration blitz and public awareness campaign to explain the new arrangements and encourage eligible citizens to register.
Young people and first-time voters should receive particular attention, it said, citing previous ERC Africa research that identified barriers to registration as a major obstacle to youth participation in elections.
The watchdog further called for practical measures to reduce the distance voters must travel to registration centres and address direct or indirect costs associated with registration.
Persons with disabilities, people in remote communities and other groups facing additional barriers should be prioritised.
ZEC urged to clarify its role
Despite the transfer of voter registration functions, ERC Africa stressed that ZEC retains a central constitutional role in administering elections.
The organisation urged the commission to clearly explain its responsibilities under the new arrangement, particularly its continued role in administering the voters’ roll for elections and by-elections.
It said citizens, political parties and civil society organisations need a clear understanding of which institution is responsible for each aspect of the electoral process.
ERC Africa also called on Parliament, the Ministry of Justice and other relevant institutions to review and align the legal and regulatory framework governing elections following the constitutional changes.
The review should ensure consistency between the Constitution, the Electoral Act and other laws, regulations, policies and procedures governing voter registration and the maintenance of the voters’ roll.
Transparency will determine public confidence
ERC Africa identified six principles that should guide the transition and its implementation: accessibility, accuracy, transparency, inclusion, certainty and accountability.
It called for meaningful engagement with political parties, civil society organisations and other electoral stakeholders, as well as timely public communication about changes to registration procedures and institutional responsibilities.
The organisation said the new system should be assessed against clear benchmarks rather than judged solely by the transfer of administrative duties.
“Citizens must be recognised not merely as beneficiaries of the electoral system, but as key participants in Zimbabwe’s democratic and electoral processes,” ERC Africa said.
Authorities say government is already preparing the Civil Registry Department for its expanded role, with personnel undergoing training to handle voter registration. The integration is expected to reduce duplication by allowing eligible citizens applying for national identity documents to register as voters through the same process, improving efficiency and access.
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