Levi Mukarati, Senior Political Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson, Justice Simpson Mutambane-ngwe, is shuttling between Windhoek, Namibia, and Harare since being sworn into office four months ago, amid calls that the veteran lawyer should be domiciled locally in order to fully apply his mind on the job at hand. Mutambanengwe, who is based in Namibia where he works as a High Court Judge, has the insurmountable task of ringing changes at the electoral body, discredited for the shambolic handling of the 2008 synchronised polls, described by critics as a sham.
The ZEC boss is still to conclude his duties in Windhoek, west of Zimbabwe, and commutes back home whenever duty demands.
The Financial Gazette could not immediately ascertain who funds Mutambanengwe’s travel and accommodation expenses.
His deputy, Joyce Kazembe has been taking charge of most of the commission’s day-to-day activities to fill the void created when her boss is away.
In an interview at the sidelines of a workshop in Kariba last week, the soft-spoken Mutamb-anengwe was reluctant to clarify how he was balancing duties between Namibia and Harare.
He said: “I am sorry, I cannot speak about that.”
ZEC is mandated to run national polls, but the commission has been idle since the formation of the compromised inclusive government, which agreed to halt any by-elections in local authorities and Parliament.
The new commission is expected to prove its ability next year should the on-going chaotic constitution-making process result in a referendum and thereafter general elections, which have been called for by the major political gladiators in the country.
“Since he was appointed, he comes and goes; at times he stays for about three weeks before disappearing to Namibia,” said a source.
“We are told he is still finalising his duties in Namibia before coming to settle full-time in Zimbabwe.”
Mutambanengwe was appointed ZEC chairperson by President Robert Mugabe at the end of March this year.
Other members of the nine-member electoral commission include Petty Makoni, Sibongile Ndlovu, Bessie Nhandara, Daniel Chigaru, Geoff Feltoe, Mkhululi Nyathi and Theophilus Gambe.
Mutambanengwe took over from Justice George Chiweshe who was later appointed Judge President of the High Court in Harare.
Chiweshe became unpopular in 2008 when he presided over the controversial harmonised elections in March. The Presidential result was delayed by about six weeks and when announced, resulted in a run-off a few months later.
Civic organisations and churches have in the past demanded that the post of the chairmanship of ZEC be held by a permanent person.
“The capacity of ZEC to efficiently and effectively run elections has been questioned. Previous experience has shown that ZEC does not have adequate human and financial resources to efficiently and effectively run elections,” said the Zimbabwe Election Support Network in its position paper on proposed electoral reforms.
“The absence in the country of the new chairperson, Justice Simpson Mutambanengwe needs an immediate solution. He is needed to lead reform, restructure, resource and capacity building of the ZEC team to create a truly effective independent and trusted electoral management body.”
The churches also added their voice in a communiqué saying: “We call upon the three principals to ensure that the current chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is Zimbabwe-based and readily available.”
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