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night with scores of people who failed to register calling for the extension of the programme.

A new 30-day voter registration exercise has already been planned for but the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) insists funding of the process has to be released early to allow for voter education.

Long queues were seen at registration centres in Epworth, Chitungwiza and some Harare suburbs
Those who failed to register were being told to do so at district offices or to wait for the new exercise expected to begin as soon as President Mugabe assents to the new Constitution.

Mr Sydreck Mukumi said he had failed to register because the process was chaotic.

“I have been to a number of centres but have not been able to register. I want to vote in the coming elections,” he said.
Miss Patience Munemo complained that a single team for a district was not enough.

“They should deploy more teams. I came here at 10am but still at 3pm, I have not been attended to,” she said.

She was among over a thousand people gathered at Chinamano Secondary School in Epworth, who expressed concern with the slow registration process.

Others complained that the officials conducting the process were slow, and at times took too many breaks or asked people to queue and not receive assistance.

“They have gone out. We have been standing here for close to two hours without anyone helping us,” she said.

Mr Emmanuel Chipfuruse said the queues were not showing any signs of movement.

“I have been here since they opened at 8am but until now (2pm) I have not been served,” he said.
Mr Joseph Sithole said a new coordinated exercise should be started. He said it was unfair to detain people at the registration centre for several hours yet the people have other businesses to do.
Mr Israel Mumvuri said he had been made to stand in a queue that was not being served.

A check in the classroom where he together with several others were queuing did not show any sign of officials.

Miss Priviledge Mutekeri said she had been to several centres and failed to register.

“I have been to Dombo and Epworth Secondary schools. Today (Sunday) I am here and still I cannot register. I slept here,” she said.

Mr Sam Finias said the officers were concentrating more on national identity cards and not voter registration.

In Chitungwiza, people who applied for national identity documents on Saturday were asked to collect them at 4pm yesterday barely two hours before the closure of the mobile exercise.

A team leader from the Registrar General of Voters Mrs Rufaro Zhou said registration had taken place at five centres in the area starting at the Aquatic Complex, Huruyadzo in St Marys, Unit L Community Hall, Mberi Primary School in Zengeza and at Seke 4 High School yesterday.

“The response is very high as you can see,” she said.

ZEC chairperson Justice Rita Makarau said the commission would issue a comprehensive statement this  week after the closure of the first registration phase.

In an earlier interview Justice Makarau said US$21 million was required for the new exercise.

She said under the new exercise, voter registration would take place in every ward and voter educators would be deployed ahead of the registration exercise.

For the harmonised elections expected next month, ZEC requires US$106 million.

By mid last week, over 40 000 people had been added to the voters roll.