The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is inviting applications from individuals and organizations for accreditation to observe the referendum on the draft Constitution to be held on March 16 this year.

The Constitution making process which started over four years ago, will reach its climax next month when Zimbabweans vote on whether to adopt or reject it, after which harmonized elections will follow to end the inclusive government formed in 2009 following an inconclusive poll in 2008.

In a statement, ZEC Chief Elections Officer, Lovemore Sekeramayi said all applications would be considered by an Observer Accreditation Committee which would then recommend individuals and organizations to be accredited, adding that applications would be considered for representing bodies that exercise functions similar to those of the ZEC.

The Zimbabwe government has since managed to secure funding needed to hold the referendum after the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) had indicated that it would only be able to fund the harmonized elections.