President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said that he agrees with the diaspora vote in principle and blamed inadequate resources for the failure of his government to allow the diaspora to vote. At a meeting with Zimbabweans in New York, Mnangagwa said that his government will use the next 5 years to try to implement Diaspora voting. Responding to a question, Mnangagwa said,
I agree with that request (diaspora vote), but we were not able in the time available to have the logistics put in place to implement that objective. We now have five years where we can work on that objective, where we can see whether we can implement it.
Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn leader Simba Makoni was critical of Mnangagwa’s response saying that the Constitution obliges him and his administration to implement diaspora voting. Makoni said that Mnangagwa should not make it seem like he is doing diasporans a favour. Speaking to NewsDay, Makoni said,
He is obliged by the Constitution to create the necessary conditions that allow all Zimbabweans wherever they are to exercise their right to vote…There is no need to wait for five years because there will be by-elections and Mnangagwa should make sure those in the diaspora take part. We will be watching him.
More: NewsDay