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the development yesterday, saying sufficient mechanisms had been put in place to ensure a credible election.
She said in the “rare event” that most registered voters fail, for a justifiable cause, to cast their ballots on July 31, the commission would approach the court seeking an extension.

“We are hoping that we will be able to cater for everybody between 7am and 7pm because we have increased the number of polling stations.
“We have also introduced a system which we are calling streaming where even if it’s one polling station, people are going to be served at various points within the polling system.

“We believe that should contain the electorate that is coming to vote on July 31. But again, we have the best practice which demands that if, come 7pm there are still people in the queue, we serve them until we clear the queues and we can go up to 12 midnight. So, we believe those three strategies should be able to cater for all the people who are going to come to our queues.

“But in the rare event that we still cannot manage that, we believe that the right to vote should override time constraints. Therefore we may then have to approach the court for an extension, but we sincerely believe that it will not be necessary.

“But in the event that it becomes necessary, yes, we will uphold the right of every Zimbabwean to vote. If it means that we approach the court, yes, we will do it,” she said.
Justice Makarau said the commission was confident of delivering a credible election despite attacks and accusations it has been subjected to by some stakeholders.
She said the commission would continue to introspect to make sure all the logistics were in place.

The ZEC chairperson said the challenges faced during the special vote were unique to the system adding that they would not affect the ordinary vote.
Justice Makarau said the commission was ready for the harmonised polls.

She said binding and numbering (putting serial numbers) of ballot papers was now underway, adding that the papers had since been disbursed to six provinces while the remainder would be sent out by Saturday.

Justice Makarau said contrary to claims by some stakeholders especially, the MDC-T that the commission was biased towards Zanu-PF, its composition was of people who came from different backgrounds with the objective of delivering a credible election.

“The commission remains impartial. I wouldn’t want to remind you that the commissioners come from different backgrounds. All those commissioners debate issues passionately but always are guided by one sentiment and that is to render a credible election. One that is fair. That is what has been driving all commissioners. So they are impartial in my view and according to what I have seen to date.

“The secretariat works closely under the commission and theirs is to implement the policy decisions of the commission. The commissioners are not hands off people, they are all people who actually go in and work together with the secretariat. So there is no room for secretariat to carry out their own agenda.

“The commissioners are down there in the trenches with the secretariat. It’s one body where the commissioners and their staff are working together to deliver on a credible election,” said Justice Makarau.

African Union Commission chairperson, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and some Comesa observers yesterday paid separate courtesy calls on Justice Makarau and the commission.

Justice Makarau said the commission advised the observers about the progress towards the polls.
She said Treasury was releasing electoral funds as and when they were required.