ZIMBABWE Electoral Commission (Zec) chairperson Justice
Rita Makarau has signalled her intention to resign as head of the electoral
body, a few months before crucial general elections whose credibility will
determine whether the country ends 20 years of international isolation.
According to sources at Zec, Makarau, who was appointed by
former president Robert Mugabe last year, has written to other commissioners
notifying them of her intention to resign. Sources also said she also notified
President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Sources said although Makarau’s official reasons for
resigning were unclear, her exit is linked to Mugabe’s ouster and the defeat of
Zanu PF’s G40 faction. Zimbabwe is due to hold elections before August next
year.
Makarau’s deputy, Emmanuel Magade, will be the acting chair
before a substantive chairperson is appointed, sources said.
Her resignation comes at a time she was spearheading the
biometric voter registration exercise as part of moves to prepare a new voters’
roll. This followed concerns by political players that the previous register
was in a shambolic state and prone to manipulation.
Efforts to get a comment from Makarau were fruitless as she
was unreachable on mobile phone. She also did not respond to text messages sent
to her number.
Makarau, who is also Judicial Service Commission (JSC)
secretary, was very close to Mugabe. Zimbabwe Independent
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