HARARE, Sept. 14 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Thursday launched a new biometric voter registration ahead of polls set for next year.
Mugabe and his wife Grace, along with two vice presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko and their spouses, kick-started the registration process, becoming the first ones to be registered under the new biometric voter registration system, the state-run news agency New Ziana reported.
"The Biometric Voter Registration is a new registration for all citizens who are 18 years and above. I therefore urge all eligible Zimbabweans to go to their established centers to register in their numbers," said Mugabe at the launch ceremony at the State House.
Zimbabwe is for the first time using the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) system. The registration runs for four months up to Jan. 15, 2018.
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson Rita Makarau said voter registration will commence at all the country's 63 district offices on Sept. 18, 2017.
Voters' proof of residence will determine the area and specific polling station where they will be allocated to vote on polling day, she said.
The ZEC said it is targeting to register 7 million voters, up from 6.8 million voters in the 2013 elections.
Mugabe, 93, will seek re-election in next year's polls.
