Robert Kasibante, the presidential candidate of the National Peasants Party, has accused the Electoral Commission (EC) of plotting to rig the upcoming general elections by denying him access to the national voter register.
Kasibante said the Commission’s failure to provide his campaign with a copy of the voter register is a deliberate act aimed at manipulating the electoral process, warning that such conduct threatens the credibility of the elections.
In a strongly worded statement, Kasibante expressed disappointment with the EC, insisting that access to the voter register is a fundamental right of all presidential candidates and a key safeguard for electoral integrity.
“It is standard practice, a cornerstone of fair elections, for every candidate to be furnished with a copy of the voter register,” Kasibante said.
“This document is crucial for us to meticulously scrutinise the electoral roll, identify any potential discrepancies, and ensure the integrity of the process. To date, nothing has been done in this regard, and this inaction speaks volumes.”
Kasibante argued that the absence of the voter register has made it impossible for his campaign to conduct due diligence, including verifying voter details, cross-checking the roll against party data, and identifying anomalies that could point to electoral malpractice.
He said the lack of transparency creates an uneven political playing field and undermines the principles of free and fair elections.
The National Peasants Party, which draws much of its support from rural and marginalised communities, relies heavily on grassroots mobilisation, a process Kasibante said is severely constrained without access to the voter register.
The presidential hopeful warned that continued refusal by the EC to release the register could compel his party to boycott the elections altogether.
Such a move, he said, would have far-reaching consequences for the legitimacy of the electoral process and could deepen public distrust in democratic institutions.
A boycott by a presidential candidate, particularly one claiming to represent disenfranchised communities, could also leave a section of the electorate without representation in the final outcome.
By press time, the Electoral Commission had not issued a formal response to Kasibante’s allegations, leaving questions hanging over the conduct and credibility of the electoral process as the country moves closer to polling day.
