CSOs’ Communique: Towards Democratic Elections in Zimbabwe.

2 November, 2016

We, the undersigned Civic Society Organisations, having deliberated for two days at an All Stakeholders Conference convened by the Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (ZESN) in Bulawayo, note with concern the half-hearted attempts and lack of political will to reform the laws and institutions governing the conduct of elections in Zimbabwe. We note with concern, that in the absence of meaningful legislative, administrative and political reforms, the 2018 elections will not be free and fair…Read more

PRELIMINARY STATEMENT ON THE NORTON PARLIAMENTARY BY-ELECTION

Harare – 23 October 2016- The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) as part of its observation of the 22 October Norton by-election deployed 72 observers consisting of mobile and static observers. The static observers were deployed at every polling station in the Constituency whilst the mobile teams were roving around the Constituency assessing the political environment outside the polling stations…More

ZESN MIDDAY STATEMENT ON THE NORTON BY-ELECTION

Harare- 22 October, 2016 – ZESN has deployed 72 static and mobile observers to the National Assembly by-election in Norton Constituency to measure compliance of the election day processes with the Constitution and Electoral Laws. Observer reports have shown that voting started on time in all polling stations. The political environment in the constituency is calm and peaceful and voting is….Read More

ZESN’s CONCERNS ON THE PROPOSED TIMELINES FOR NEW VOTER REGISTRATION

HARARE, 17 October, 2016– The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) notes the announcement by the Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) that the Commission will commence a new biometric polling station based voter registration in 2017. ZESN calls upon ZEC to ensure that this crucial exercise is awarded adequate time to guarantee that the process is inclusive and comprehensive so as to safeguard against the disenfranchisement of any potential voters…Read More

ZESN CALLS FOR COMPREHENSIVE ELECTORAL REFORMS

Harare – 8 September 2016 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) is concerned by utterances attributed to senior Government officials in the media insinuating that there will be no more electoral reforms before the 2018 harmonised elections. The utterances come against a background of numerous calls by CSOs and 2013 regional observer groups for the full alignment of Electoral laws to the Constitution as well as for the creation of an enabling political environment…Read More

THE GENERAL LAWS AMENDMENT ACT FALLS SHORT OF EXPECTATIONS – ZESN

4 August 2016 – Harare – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) notes the gazetting of the General Laws Amendment Act (GLAA) which introduces some amendments to various laws including the Electoral Act to bring them into alignment with the Constitution. ZESN believes that the Act does not sufficiently address fundamental issues related to the Electoral Act such as the right to vote, the special vote, delimitation and media access among other issues…Read More

ZESN URGES ZEC TO ADHERE TO PRINCIPLES OF ELECTION MANAGEMENT

8 July, 2016 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) urges the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to adhere to the principles of election management such as independence, impartiality, integrity, transparency, efficiency, professionalism and service-mindedness. This call follows the swearing in of new Commissioners to replace individuals whose terms of office expired in March 2016… Read more

ZESN CALLS FOR EXPEDITIOUS APPOINTMENT OF ZEC COMMISSIONERS

27 June, 2016 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) is calling for the expeditious appointment of the six commissioners of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), whose interviews were held on the 9th of June, 2016. It is imperative for the new commissioners to be sworn in immediately given the limited time before the 2018 harmonised elections and the number of electoral reforms and processes that need to be implemented before the elections…Read More