1 February 2018 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) notes the appointment of Justice Priscilla Chigumba as the new Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). ZESN calls upon the newly appointed Chairperson to spearhead the requisite legislative and administrative reforms to ensure that the 2018 elections are, free, fair and credible…more

11 January 2018 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) notes the Biometric Voter Registration mop up which commenced on 10 January 2018 in response to calls by various stakeholders for an extension of the registration exercise. Voter registration is one of the most critical elements of an electoral cycle as such ZESN urges the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to avail adequate voter education in the areas where the mop up exercise is being conducted.   As ZEC concludes the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) exercise, ZESN reiterates its calls for a complete, accurate and comprehensive voters’ roll, a clear election roadmap, the creation of a conducive political environment among other key electoral processes leading up to the 2018 elections…more

12 December 2017 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) notes the resignation of Justice Rita Makarau as Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). The resignation of Justice Makarau comes at a critical time in Zimbabwe’s electoral cycle with key electoral processes such as the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) blitz underway. ZESN calls upon the government to expedite the appointment of the new ZEC chairperson in line with Section 238 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, to ensure that there is ample time to acclimatize to the new position and oversee key electoral processes before the next elections..read more

Harare – 16 November 2017- The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), a coalition of 32 Non-Governmental Organizations whose mandate is the promotion of democratic electoral processes in Zimbabwe, notes the prevailing political impasse in the country. Guided by its vision of a Zimbabwe where democratic electoral processes are upheld, ZESN calls for inclusive dialogue to resolve this political impasse…more

2 November 2017 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) a coalition of 32 Non-Governmental Organisations promoting democratic elections in Zimbabwe is observing the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) exercise which commenced on 10 October 2017. The Network will deploy a total of 2000 observers to cover all the Four Phases of the BVR blitz, to date 938 observers have been deployed…more

Harare – 6 October 2017 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) notes with concern the recent changes by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to the voter registration roll out plan and the dates for accreditation of observers for the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) exercise. ZESN and other electoral stakeholders have repeatedly called for a comprehensive electoral roadmap and the timeous availing of crucial electoral information in order to facilitate the smooth implementation of activities around key electoral processes….more

4 August 2017 – Harare – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) notes the gazetting of Statutory Instrument 85 of 2017 by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) on the 21st of July 2017 in accordance with Section 192 of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13]. ZESN made submissions to the draft regulations on various provisions with a view of assisting ZEC to strengthen the regulations. Despite the presence of progressive provisions in the regulations, ZESN notes that there are a number of gaps that need to be addressed…more

Harare – 26 July 2017 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) calls upon the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to expedite the procurement of the software for the central database or central Automated Finger Identification System (AFIS). While the BVR kits will capture each voter’s fingerprints, facial photograph and other personal information such as name, surname, sex, address, another integral component of the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) system is the AFIS…more

Harare –16 JULY, 2017 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), as part of its observation of the Chiwundura National Assembly by-election, deployed 15 static and mobile observers. The static observers were deployed at ten ward collation centres, and the constituency collation centre, whilst the mobile teams were roving around the Constituency…more

19 June 2017 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) is concerned by the reintroduction of the requirement for proof of residence for voter registration by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). ZESN notes that the initial proposal in the draft voter registration regulations to scrap the need for the proof of residence was a welcome development, given that in the past, stringent requirements resulted in the disenfranchisement of significant numbers of voters…more