Zec urged to embrace all languages

THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) should advertise their programmes in all the country’s official 16 languages so that everyone understands electoral processes ahead of the 2018 elections, the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Retired Major General Happyton Bonyongwe, has said.

Responding to questions in Parliament on Wednesday, Rtd Maj Gen Bonyongwe said Zec should educate people in languages they understand so that they make informed decisions.

“I understand that Zec is putting out advertisements to educate people throughout the country in preparation for the elections to be held in 2018.

“People should be educated in the languages that they understand. It could be an advantage if the advertisements are done using all the 16 languages in the country.

“I hope the Zec officials will take note of what we’re saying because they have to educate people so that they know what is good for them and what is required of them when they go for registration. I hope that Zec will improve on their advertisements so that when people are educated, they will make decisions based on the knowledge given to them,” said Rtd Maj Gen Bonyongwe.

Although Zec is not using the 16 languages to advertise their programmes, the Minister said he was impressed with the voter education programme currently underway.

“From my understanding and also as someone who follows issues as they are articulated through the press, there is a voter awareness programme, a voter education programme which is currently under way. That is a fact,” said Rtd Maj Gen Bonyongwe.

“With regards to the process which is on-going, that information is going out day in and day out in the print and the electronic media to cover the process to ensure that Zimbabweans go out there and register to vote.”

The Minister said this while responding to MPs who had said Zec was not reaching out to everyone.

Highfield East MP Mr Erick Murai said there was a lot of confusion in constituencies due to language barriers.

“We are in the process of registering people through the Biometric Voter Registration so that we prepare for the 2018 elections but there is a lot of confusion in our constituencies. People would want to know the required documents for anybody to be registered.

“The reason why there is this confusion is that the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) adverts being broadcast, most of them are done in English. I suggest that we hold more advertisements in our 16 languages so that the people who are the beneficiaries will understand,” he said

Warren Park MP Engineer Elias Mudzuri said: “We plead with you to move around in your capacity and also take the Minister of Home Affairs. Can you move around Chitungwiza and listen to what people are saying.

“You will notice that people are not aware of the registration exercise, they are in the dark.” — @ pamelashumba1

“What I’ve seen is that all these [pieces of] legislation have been enforced but they’re not being adhered to. There’s been trivialisation of environmental issues where environmental offenders normally get suspended sentences; there’s no custodial sentence in living memory concerning veld fire offences,” said Cde Mudyiwa.

Veld fires lead to the depletion of forests hence the need to protect living things that depend on the ecosystem.

EMA public relations officer, Mr Steady Kangata advised members of the public, especially those in rural areas, to desist from storing flammable substances and to maintain clear fireguards.

“Our statistics show that we’ve had many more veld fires this year compared to last year. We should all conserve the environment as it’s in our best interests. Four people have been killed by veld fires in the last three months and these statistics are catastrophic,” he said while urging members of the public to report anyone they see starting a veld fire.

Mr Kangata said the country had so far recorded a 25 percent increase in veld fires countrywide compared to the same period last year.

The number of fire incidents increased by 63 percent while the total area destroyed has increased by 13 percent compared to the same period last year.

Mr Kangata said by September 21 this year, 1 484 cases of veld fires had been recorded countrywide compared to 967 cases recorded during the same period last year.

He said 760 000 hectares had already been destroyed by veld fires this year with the worst affected province being Mashonaland West where 266 810 hectares have been destroyed and Matabeleland North having lost 235 230 hectares.

In Kezi, Matabeleland South province, villagers now fear that unless urgent measures are taken to control veld fires, their livestock could starve.

Chief Nyangazonke said the veld fires had destroyed a greater portion of the grazing area under his jurisdiction and measures should be taken to stop hunters and panners from starting veld fires. He said hunters and panners had become a menace in his area as their activities were threatening their livestock.

Communities should therefore take the lead in ensuring that those that start veld fires are arrested. Councillors, village heads and chiefs should come up with ways of policing their respective areas. Communities should also have fire guards to prevent the fires from spreading. – @Yolisswa