Overseas Voting

BACKGROUND

YOU CAN'T PLEASE EVERYONE SO THE SAYING GOES.THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR BELOVED COUNTRY OF ZIMBABWE.OUR PRESIDENCY IS PRESUMED AT FAULT FOR TRYING TO PLEASE EVERY ZIMBABWEAN CITIZEN.ZIMBABWE HAS BEEN CRIPPLED BY BOTH EXTERNAL AND INTERNAL FACTORS.ALL OF US ARE AT FAULT IN REGARDS TO THE SITUATION THAT HAS BEFALLEN OUR BELOVED SOIL AND IT IS ALL OUR DUTY AS ZIMBABWEAN CITIZENS TO FIX THE SITUATION BEFORE IT BECOMES A SERIOUS PROBLEM.

PETITION

IN THIS REGARD,AS A DIASPORAN WHO FEELS I HAVE A DUTY TO SERVE MY COUNTRY AND WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE IN APPORTIONING BLAME CAME UP WITH THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS THAT I THINK EVERY TRUE ZIMBABWEAN CITIZEN SHOULD UNDERTAKE TO CONSIDER.THEREFORE I ASK THE GOVERNMENT OF ZIMBABWE TO CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING:

-INTRODUCING THE OVERSEAS BALLOT
-POLL FEE(FOR DIASPORANS)
-DIASPORA TAX

IN INTRODUCING THE INTERNATIONAL BALLOT(BALLOT WITHOUT BOUNDARIES),THE DEMOCRATIC RIGHT OF EVERY ZIMBABWEAN TO VOTE IS EXERCISED.THIS CAN BE DONE IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING WAYS:

-CREATING A WEBSITE TO REGISTER VOTERS ABROAD.
-INTRODUCE MAIL-IN BALLOTS.
-VARIOUS POST IN DESIGNATED AREAS IN COUNTRIES OF RESIDENCY FOR EXAMPLE U.K.
-USING ZIMBABWEAN EMBASSIES ABROAD.

TO ENHANCE AND FACILITATE THIS PROCESS VARIOUS ADMINSTRATION ISSUES HAVE TO BE CONSIDERED INCLUDING THE COST OF FINANCING:
-PLANNING
-MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT
-LOGISTICS
-RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING OF VOTING STAFF AND
VOTING SITES.

FURTHER TO THAT, A DIASPORA TAX SHOULD BE INTRODUCED.THIS MIGHT SOUND OFF THE WALL BUT THE MAJOR BRAIN ECONOMY OF THE COUNTRY IS BASED OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY.THIS FURTHER EXACERBATES THE SITUATION AT HAND.MOST YOUNG AND EDUCATED ZIMBABWEANS LEAVE THE COUNTRY FOR GREENER PASTURES WITH THE KNOWLEDGE ATTAINED FROM ZIMBABWE.MOST OF THE GRADUATES HAVE THEIR EDUCATION FINANCED BY THE THEN GOVERNMENT AND SOME HAVE NEVER PAID BACK THEIR GRANTS OR STUDENT LOANS AND SOME HAVE NEVER PAID A CENT IN TAXES.

THIS IS ONLY A BID TO BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE TO HELP US HELP OURSELVES TO BUILD OUR ECONOMY AND BRING OUR ECONOMY BACK TO ITS FEET.THIS CAN ONLY BE DONE BY US AND US AS ZIMBABWEAN CITIZENS.

K.GODFREY
FREELANCE WRITER
CALGARY
ALBERTA