'Zec is untouchable'

The Zimbabwe Media Commission lacks the authority to enforce the Freedom of Information Act regarding the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. This limitation arises because electoral matters fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the independent electoral body, superseding the media commission’s general oversight of public entities. This jurisdictional gap undermines the principle of comprehensive transparency, as citizens cannot compel the release of critical electoral data, such as voters' rolls. Consequently, accountability mechanisms are fragmented, leaving significant portions of the electoral process opaque and unaccessible to public scrutiny. This situation is highly relevant to open data, as it highlights how legal frameworks often fail to cover specific independent bodies. Without unified access rules, essential datasets remain hidden, preventing the free flow of information necessary for democratic integrity and informed public participation in elections.

Source: bulawayo24.com
Published on 2024-10-15