Preliminary Statement on the Cowdray Park Ward 28 local authority by Election

31 March 2019 – Bulawayo – As part of its comprehensive efforts to observe the local authority by-election in Ward 28 of Bulawayo’s Cowdray Park, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) deployed 37 polling station based observers and a ward collation centre observer. In addition, ZESN had two mobile teams assessing the political environment outside the polling stations…more

Statement on the Post 2018 Election Conference

12 March 2019 – BULAWAYO – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) held a post-2018 harmonised election conference on 7 and 8 March 2019 in Bulawayo. The overall objective of the Conference was to review the conduct of the 2018 harmonised elections focusing on the legislative and administrative framework, the political environment, role of observers, electoral reform process, and recommendations by election observer missions among other pertinent factors…more

International Women’s day 2019 Statement

Gender parity in electoral processes key to achieving development – ZESN

8 March 2019 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) joins the rest of the world in commemorating International Women’s Day (IWD). The IWD is commemorated each year on the 9th of March to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women while calling for gender equality. This year, the campaign is running under the theme #Think equal, build smart, innovate for changemore

MIDDAY SITUATIONAL STATEMENT ON THE BEITBRIDGE, CHITUNGWIZA AND MATOBO LOCAL AUTHORITY BY-ELECTIONS

Harare – 23 February 2019 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) has deployed over 17 trained and accredited observers to every polling station in Beitbridge East Ward 15, Chitungwiza South Ward 24 and Matobo North Ward 25 by-elections. In addition, there are three mobile teams in the wards observing the voting process as well as the political environment outside the polling stations.  This midday Situational Statement is based on reports received from the polling station based and mobile election observers in the three local authority wards…more

ZESN OBSERVING BEITBRIDGE, CHITUNGWIZA AND MATOBO LOCAL ATHOURITY BY-ELECTIONS

Harare- 22 February 2019 – Three Local Authority by-elections will be held on Saturday 23 February 2019 in Beitbridge East Ward 15, Chitungwiza South Ward 24 and Matobo North Ward 25. The seats fell vacant following the death of the incumbent councillors namely Alice Chihambakwe of Chitungwiza, Clara Ndlovu of Matobo and Boy Maniere Ndou of Beitbridge. ZESN is deploying 17 polling station based observers covering all polling stations, and three (3) mobile observer teams…more

National Dialogue must result in comprehensive electoral and political reforms – ZESN

7 February 2019 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) notes the call by President Emmerson Mnangagwa for dialogue with political parties that participated in the 30 July 2018 harmonised elections. ZESN reiterates its position that the dialogue must be inclusive of all electoral stakeholders namely civic society organisations, churches, the media, women, persons with disability and youths among others. Pursuant to calls by various electoral stakeholders for inclusive multi-stakeholder dialogue on electoral and political reforms, ZESN believes that it is imperative for the dialogue to culminate in an electoral and political reforms…more

ZESN calls for a multi stakeholder electoral and political reforms taskforce to spearhead implementation of electoral and political reforms

Harare – 5 February 2019 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) notes the establishment of an inter-ministerial taskforce to address recommendations and issues raised by the various election observer missions and the Motlanthe Commission on the 1 August 2018 shootings. ZESN however, urges government to set up an inclusive multi stakeholder taskforce comprising of a wide range of key stakeholders such as other political parties that participated in the 2018 harmonised election, churches and civic society groups…more

Inclusive national dialogue key to finding solutions to prevailing political and socio-economic challenges- ZESN

Harare – 25 January 2019 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) has noted with concern the recent violent protests characterised by looting, vandalism of property and infrastructure as well as the heavy handed response by the security forces resulting in deaths and injury of civilians.  While ZESN acknowledges the right to demonstrate as part of freedom of expression as enshrined in the Constitution…more

ZESN OBSERVING THE CHITUNGWIZA SOUTH WARD 24 LOCAL AUTHORITY

Election Update – As part of its oversight mandate of promoting democratic electoral environment and processes in Zimbabwe, The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) will be observing the Chitungwiza South Ward 24 Local Authority by-elections slated for the 26th of January 2018. ZESN has since trained and deployed a long term observer in the ward and will also deploy static observers to cover the polling stations on polling day…more