REPORT ON THE 22 OCTOBER 2022 LOCAL AUTHORITY BY-ELECTIONS

Election observation is imperative in the gathering of information regarding an electoral process, to assess whether the electoral process was conducted in accordance with the laws of the country, regional or international principles, standards and best practices. The information gathered provides an impartial and accurate appraisal of the electoral
environment and recommendations for improving electoral processes.

As part of its efforts to promote democratic elections in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) deployed trained observers to observe Local Authority by-elections on 22 October 2022 in Buhera Rural District Council (RDC) Ward 24, Guruve RDC Ward 4, Insiza RDC Ward 4, Matobo RDC Ward 2, Mutare Municipality Ward 18 and Takawira RDC Ward 6. The by-elections were held in accordance with Section 121 A of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) following the passing on of councillors Saimon Chingwidze (ZANU-PF) of Ward 24 Buhera RDC; Tom Moyo (ZANU-PF) of Ward 2 Matobo RDC, Kudakwashe Chisango (MDC-A) of Ward 18 Mutare Municipality; Lencio Kafungura (ZANU-PF) of Ward 4 Guruve RDC, Johanes Kohli (ZANU-PF) of Takawira Ward 6 RDC and Lawrence Maphosa (ZANU-PF) of Insiza Ward 4 RDC.

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PRELIMINARY STATEMENT ON THE 22 OCTOBER 2022 SIX LOCAL AUTHORITY BY-ELECTIONS

In the spirit of promoting democratic elections in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) observed Local Authority by-elections on 22 October, 2022 in Buhera Rural District Council (RDC) Ward 24, Guruve RDC Ward 4, Insiza RDC Ward 4, Matobo RDC Ward 2, Mutare Municipality Ward 18 and Takawira RDC Ward 6. The by-elections in which the ruling party retained 5 out of 6 local authority seats were held against a background of violence which marred the electoral credibility of Ward 2 of Matobo RDC, Ward 4 of Insiza and Takawira Ward 6. The three Wards were heavily manned by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) security details as part of efforts to maintain law and order given the toxic political tensions that were rife during the campaign period. A few instances of electoral malpractices were observed at Takawira where ZANU-PF is reported to have mounted a campaign desk within the vicinity of the polling station.

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ZESN SITUATIONAL STATEMENT ON THE 22 OCTOBER 2022 LOCAL AUTHORITY BYELECTIONS

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) has deployed 15 static observers and four (4) mobile observers in six (6) Local Authority by-elections which are; Buhera Rural District Council (RDC) Ward 24; Guruve RDC Ward 4; Insiza RDC Ward 4; Matobo RDC Ward 2; Takawira (RDC) Ward 6 and Mutare Municipality Ward 18. The vacancies arose following the death of Councillors Saimon Chingwidze (ZANU-PF) of Ward 24 Buhera RDC; Tom Moyo (ZANU-PF) of Ward 2 Matobo RDC, Kudakwashe Chisango (MDC-A) of Ward 18 Mutare Municipality; Lencio Kafungura (ZANU-PF) of Ward 4 Guruve RDC, Johanes Kohli (ZANU-PF) of Takawira Ward 6 RDC and Lawrence Maphosa (ZANU-PF) of Insiza Ward 4 RDC.

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ZIMBABWE CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATIONS 2022 – 2024 ELECTION STRATEGY

The Civil Society Elections Cluster (CSEC) strategy, 2017 to 2019, emerged from a broad consultative process that brought together Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Zimbabwe working in the arena of democracy and governance. It is premised on the realization that while efforts at ensuring an effective oversight of the the electoral process by individual organizations has traction, there is, regrettably, a dearth in deliberate coordination of various Civil Society Actors to coalesce around unified electoral oversight strategy.

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FOSTER PEACE AHEAD OF THE 2023 ELECTIONS TO ENHANCE ELECTORAL INTEGRITY

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) implores political party leaders and their supporters to foster peace ahead of the 2023 harmonized elections. The call comes against the prevailing toxic political environment which has been characterized by a spate of inter-party as well as intra-party violence that occurred in Matobo and Insiza. These violent clashes have the potential to adversely affect the participation in democratic electoral processes of the electorate, particularly vulnerable groups.

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ZESN SITUATIONAL STATEMENT ON THE MBERENGWA RDC WARD 15 & NYANGA RDC WARD 27 LOCAL AUTHORITY BY-ELECTIONS

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) has deployed 6 static observers in Mberengwa Ward 15 and Nyanga Ward 27 as well as observers at the Ward Collation Centres and a roving team to the local authority by-elections. The by-elections are being held in accordance with Section 121 A of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) following the death of the incumbent councillors for Mberengwa Ward 15 Ravasingadi Zhou of the Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) party and Collins Matongo of ZANU-PF party for Nyanga Ward 27 respectively.

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ZESN PRELIMINARY STATEMENT ON THE MBERENGWA RDC WARD 15 & NYANGA RDC WARD 27 LOCAL AUTHORITY BY-ELECTIONS

In line with its mission to promote democratic elections in Zimbabwe, ZESN observed local authority by-elections in the Mberengwa Rural District Council Ward 15 and Nyanga RDC Ward 27 local authority by-elections. The by-elections were held in accordance with Section 121 A of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) following the death of the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) councillors Ravasingadi Zhou and Collins Matongo for Mberengwa Ward 15 and Nyanga Ward 27 respectively.

Observation methodology

Pre-election observations were reported by ZESN observers who were deployed ahead of Election Day and who reside in their respective areas of deployment on Election Day.

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