Well, this is really the third and fourth days in my quest for nomination compressed into one, but it is the third installment for your learning curve.

Friday morning, about 0930, I went down to Avondale School (yes, it is in Ward 7) to inspect the voters’ roll. There, I met a young policeman who told me he had been there since 0700, and no one was there with the voters’ roll, and he had no information as to what had delayed them.

So I went to work. Left work early, and went to Morris Depot CID HQ, and collected my police clearance at 1630. Had to search through a pile of papers, and another policeman, also very nice, assisted me. Mine was in the pile of papers he searched through.

Then back to the voter’s inspection station. There are now two police, and one woman in civilian clothes. No, I am not on the voters’ roll. We check under Laban, then under Michael as a last name, all to no avail. So I produce papers, and we fill in a form. My papers are proof of residence (a ZESA bill), National ID (which says citizen), passport, original voters registration certificate (dated 20/07/99, number 343465), payment receipt that quite clearly says “restoration of Zim Cit” (dated 1 Dec 2005, number 432513 JJ). The officials are friendly, and very helpful, and cannot see why I am not on the roll (I have lived here, in this block of flats since 1995!) and make me double check the form before signing it, and that is done for the day. Come back tomorrow and we will have a response.

Saturday, I am back. No, no response. Market Square is not working – it is a weekend, although the officials at Avondale School are there all weekend, and feeling bored, so go check and give them something to do! Come back Tuesday, so Market square will have Monday to work on it and give a response.

Fine, I will be back on Tuesday. Before I go to work (and I will get to work late). “But what if there is a problem? There will only be until Friday to sort it all out?” “There will be no problem,” I am assured.

The hours disturb me though. People coming home from work, after 1630, are going to have trouble getting to see the roll before they pack up for the day at 1700. And with only one team at each place, they do not get there before 0800, when the few of us with jobs have to be at them.

So, next installment will be after Tuesday.

Zvakanaka!

On the second day of my quest for nomination I went to a bookstore, (in Ward 7 of course) and bought 2 fingerprint forms. $1 million each.

I then got to the police station (still in Ward 7!) at 1130 and got fingerprinted. Not even very messy with the black stuff all over.

Then down to Morris Depot, CID HQ (which is just outside Ward 7). “Come back after 1400,” says the gate cop. I sit there and read. After 1400 I go in, and join the queue. Finding the queue is confusing. I start by trying to join the front of it; since I do not know which way it is going. Ask lots of people, whoa are all as lost as me, but eventually I join it, on bench seats in the shade!, shuffle along the benches, and go to the right window. Pay $5 million, and am told, “tomorrow, 1600″.

So I move off with my receipt.

Short and sweet. It just disturbs me; a Zimbabwean has to pay (and in cash) to stand for election. Not a direct fee, but under the law, we all have to pay to go through the administration to get nominated. Strikes me as not very democratic – “some animals are more equal than others”, Orwell’s Animal Farm style. Even if the fees are very little, you still have to have money, to get elected. By law. Isn’t this a bit like the Smith regime’s qualified voting system?

Zvakanaka!