My understanding is that our constitution is based on UNIVERSAL suffrage. That means EVERY citizen has a right to vote. That is what Zanu-PF (and PF-ZAPU) fought for, which is why one of the slogans was one man one vote.
Has our constituion now removed UNIVERSAL suffrage and replaced it with qualified suffrage. Qualified suffrage makes use of a voters roll with anyone not on there not allowed to vote.
The Rhodesian system used qualified suffrage with the qualifiying criteria being race. Later they introduced a B roll where the qualifying criteria was now property ownership for blacks. The A roll was exclusively for whites.
The property clause automatically disqualified most blacks who lived in native reserves. The property there was the Queen's Land, later Tribal trust lands. Also the Group Area act prevented blacks from owning property in areas where title deeds where issued. For the born frees Group Areas act barred blacks from owning propery in the suburbs (Waterfalls, Borrowdale, Chisipite even Southerton and Ardbennie). The areas for well to do blacks were Marimba Park in Mufakose and Old Highfield where Nkomo's house was.
So if now the constitution says someone has to be on a voters roll for them to vote, does this mean Zanu-PF has backtracked on what it fought for?
Please do not tell me that there is no qualifying criteria there is. Someone has to have money for transport and time available to go to the registration centres.
It also means gravely sick people are disqualified because someone has to be healthy enough to travel to the registration centres. If a person is bedridden or in hospital at the time of registration and inspection.
I need answers from Zanu-PF leaders, do we no longer have universal suffrage. If you say we do, please explain how the current system caters for that.
Remember universal suffrage means everyone qualifies to vote in the presidential election. It is only in the council and constituency elections where the address needs to be known for ward and constituency purposes. Even then someone can declare their intended voting ward at the time of voting. As long as they are prevented from voting in another ward (by the indellible ink) it is fine.
The proof of address requirement is a way of sneaking the property qualification used by the Rhodesians back into voting system. For you to have proof of address you need to have a property registered in your name.
Yes I do known that a letter from the headman or chief is acceptable but that means your voting right is now under the control and subject to the whims of another person. That is one of the reasons why chiefs and headman have started to increasingly assert control over the voting activities of people living in their areas. If I give you the letter (proof of address) that enables you to vote in the first place then you should do my biding shouldn't you?
At the very least I have a platform to tell you what my interests are (who to vote for) and if you do not take care of my interests why should I take care of yours? Besides the possibility of denying you proof of address next time, there are lots of other things like when drawing up lists for aid and food distribution.
Opposition parties complain about chiefs and headman influencing voters, yet they are the main advocates of a system that gives them direct power over voters.
Monday 4 June 2018
Sunday 3 June 2018
The biometric voter registration fallacy
If you listen to the discourse coming out of Zimbabwe BVR (biometric voter registration) is a magic bullet that is going to prevent all rigging. My countrymates, not so fast. If anything the use of biometrics is going to lead to more doubt and disputes than usual.
What is biometrics.
Biometrics is the science of analysing human traits using digital techniques. The most commonly analyzed traits are fingerprints, although facial and iris recognition can also be performed.
Biometric involves capturing and digitising an image of the desired feature and than using computer procesing to store the feature or compare it to an existing database.
Compter techniques used include pattern matching and neural networks. Neural networks belong to the area of computing called artificial intelligence.
Besides biometrics neural networks are also used in other areas of image processing such as automatic number plate recognition.
In my career I have worked with both number plate recognition and biometric technology. I developed an average speed calculation system based on automatic number plate recognition. I did not say average speed enforcement, I said calculation so if you got a ticket please don't blame me.
I have worked with biometrics in identity verification and access control. That is systems that open doors and gates if you are recognised.
The first point I would like to stress is that pattern matching whether neural networrk based or otherwise, is not exact science. It is a statistical endeavour where you come up with a probable match within a certain degree of confidence. The confidence level is never ever 100%. Top of the range systems usually have a confidence level of about 95%. That is there is a 95% probability that whatever result it comes up with is correct.
If you have ever been enroled on a fingerprint system you will notice that they will always ask you to go and test your finger immediately. Every 20 or so people the enrolment will fail and they will take another sample.
The 5% probability of being wrong is not a small number. Out of 5 million voters that is 250 thousand people. Or 6 constiuencies.
Mind you that is based on ideal conditions. That is you have high quality equipment, operating in conditions that are not harsh with consistent samples.
In real life biometrics is even less accurate. In rural African conditions biometrics is even worse.
First there is usually no mains electricity. Batteries discharge and as the voltage get's lower sensors loose their accuracy. Often the roads are rough dust roads wich means equipment is shaken and contaminated with dust increasing the probability of failure.
Human features also change for various reasons. A snall cut on your finger changes your fingerprint profile. If you touch hot surfaces it may also deform your fingerprints. I have heard of people rubbing their fingers on hot irons or horplate stoves before going to the department of home affairs to apply for documents. Apparently it is a reliable way of making sure the system doesn't recognise your fingerprints if you have an unsavoury previous record.
What this boils down is that a high number of people are likely to experience problems with fingerprint matching even if they successfully registered.
If those people are allowed to vote, somebody will cry foul. If they are barred, somebody will cry foul as well. In the Zimbabwe context this means the stage is already set for the elections to be hotly disputed. Mark my words.
By far the best way of ensuring all elligible people vote and preventing double-voting is having an accurate citizen registry and using indellible ink. Of which Zimbabwe has one of the highest citizen registration coverages in Africa. Almost everyone in Zimbabwe has got an ID.
Lastly let us talk about who uses BVR in in the world. None of the technologically advanced countries who manufacture the equipment. The European countries, Russia, Russia, China - all these do not use BVR.
Only about 50 countries in the world have adopted BVR and nearly all of them are in Africa and a few other poor Asian and Latin American countries.
The reason for that is that most poor countries are run by politicians who know little about technology and thus can be easily sold duds. An example is buying snow-ploughs while being told they are graders.
What is biometrics.
Biometrics is the science of analysing human traits using digital techniques. The most commonly analyzed traits are fingerprints, although facial and iris recognition can also be performed.
Biometric involves capturing and digitising an image of the desired feature and than using computer procesing to store the feature or compare it to an existing database.
Compter techniques used include pattern matching and neural networks. Neural networks belong to the area of computing called artificial intelligence.
Besides biometrics neural networks are also used in other areas of image processing such as automatic number plate recognition.
In my career I have worked with both number plate recognition and biometric technology. I developed an average speed calculation system based on automatic number plate recognition. I did not say average speed enforcement, I said calculation so if you got a ticket please don't blame me.
I have worked with biometrics in identity verification and access control. That is systems that open doors and gates if you are recognised.
The first point I would like to stress is that pattern matching whether neural networrk based or otherwise, is not exact science. It is a statistical endeavour where you come up with a probable match within a certain degree of confidence. The confidence level is never ever 100%. Top of the range systems usually have a confidence level of about 95%. That is there is a 95% probability that whatever result it comes up with is correct.
If you have ever been enroled on a fingerprint system you will notice that they will always ask you to go and test your finger immediately. Every 20 or so people the enrolment will fail and they will take another sample.
The 5% probability of being wrong is not a small number. Out of 5 million voters that is 250 thousand people. Or 6 constiuencies.
Mind you that is based on ideal conditions. That is you have high quality equipment, operating in conditions that are not harsh with consistent samples.
In real life biometrics is even less accurate. In rural African conditions biometrics is even worse.
First there is usually no mains electricity. Batteries discharge and as the voltage get's lower sensors loose their accuracy. Often the roads are rough dust roads wich means equipment is shaken and contaminated with dust increasing the probability of failure.
Human features also change for various reasons. A snall cut on your finger changes your fingerprint profile. If you touch hot surfaces it may also deform your fingerprints. I have heard of people rubbing their fingers on hot irons or horplate stoves before going to the department of home affairs to apply for documents. Apparently it is a reliable way of making sure the system doesn't recognise your fingerprints if you have an unsavoury previous record.
What this boils down is that a high number of people are likely to experience problems with fingerprint matching even if they successfully registered.
If those people are allowed to vote, somebody will cry foul. If they are barred, somebody will cry foul as well. In the Zimbabwe context this means the stage is already set for the elections to be hotly disputed. Mark my words.
By far the best way of ensuring all elligible people vote and preventing double-voting is having an accurate citizen registry and using indellible ink. Of which Zimbabwe has one of the highest citizen registration coverages in Africa. Almost everyone in Zimbabwe has got an ID.
Lastly let us talk about who uses BVR in in the world. None of the technologically advanced countries who manufacture the equipment. The European countries, Russia, Russia, China - all these do not use BVR.
Only about 50 countries in the world have adopted BVR and nearly all of them are in Africa and a few other poor Asian and Latin American countries.
The reason for that is that most poor countries are run by politicians who know little about technology and thus can be easily sold duds. An example is buying snow-ploughs while being told they are graders.
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