In a bold and urgent push for free and fair elections, Ian Makone, Secretary for Elections in the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), has gone to court to force the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to come clean. Makone has filed an application in the High Court demanding that ZEC immediately release an updated national voters’ roll and the final list of polling stations ahead of the August 23, 2023 general elections.

This is not a political stunt. This is a necessary act to defend democracy in Zimbabwe.

Makone’s action follows growing concerns over ZEC’s shady handling of critical election information. While ZANU PF continues to abuse state resources and state media, the electoral body has stubbornly refused to make key election materials public. With just days left before the vote, citizens are still in the dark about where they will cast their ballots. This secrecy only benefits one side—the ruling elite clinging to power.

The voters’ roll is not a suggestion. It is the very foundation of any legitimate election. Without it, how do we verify that voters are real? How do we know ghost names or duplicated voters are not being used to rig the result? ZEC’s refusal to provide this basic document raises red flags about the credibility of the entire election.

But it’s not just about the voters’ roll.

Makone is also demanding the full list of polling stations. This is critical. Candidates need to know where their supporters will vote. Citizens need to be informed well in advance. Without this list, how do people prepare? How do they plan their day? How can observers monitor polling stations if they don’t know where they are?

ZEC’s silence and delays are not administrative mistakes. They are deliberate attempts to frustrate the opposition and confuse the public. The CCC’s legal action sends a clear message: Zimbabwe will not sit quietly while democracy is dismantled piece by piece.

This court case isn’t just about paperwork—it’s about defending the people’s right to vote and to know that their vote counts. The Constitution guarantees transparency in elections. ZEC, which is supposed to be an independent body, is acting more like a puppet for the ruling regime. If ZEC has nothing to hide, it should have released the voters’ roll and polling list long ago.

The court must now show whether justice still exists in Zimbabwe. Will it stand with the people and uphold the law? Or will it side with those who thrive on secrecy and chaos?

Makone’s legal move is not just for CCC—it is for every Zimbabwean who wants a future built on truth, fairness, and accountability. It is a reminder that elections are not gifts from the powerful—they are rights fought for and protected by those who refuse to be silenced.

As the country heads to the polls, one thing is clear: without an updated voters’ roll and polling list, the election will already be compromised. Transparency is not a luxury—it is the minimum standard for any democratic process.

ZEC must act now or risk being remembered not as an independent electoral body, but as an accomplice in rigging Zimbabwe’s future. The people are watching, and they are ready to hold those in power to account. This is not just a legal fight—it is a fight for democracy itself.