Executive Summary

In terms of the Constitution and Electoral Laws of Zimbabwe, in the normal course of events, the country conducts harmonised elections every five years. Following the end of the five-year term of the government that was elected in 2013, Zimbabweans went to polls on 30 July 2018. This report presents ZESN’s observations of each sector of the electoral cycle: the pre-election, the polling, and the post-election periods. The observations were gathered through the deployment of 7240 trained observers: 210 Long Term Observers (LTOs), who primarily focused on observing and reporting on the pre and post-election periods in all the country’s 210 National Assembly constituencies from 18 May to 31 August 2018; 750 Sample Based Observers (SBOs) who observed at randomly selected polling stations on the Election Day; and 6280 Short Term Observers (STOs), at selected polling stations in every ward. The observers were provided with checklists designed to guide the collection of relevant data…more

In terms of the Constitution and Electoral Laws of Zimbabwe, in the normal course of events, the country conducts harmonised elections every five years. Following the end of the five-year term of the government that was elected in 2013, Zimbabweans went to the polls on 30 July 2018. This report presents ZESN’s observations of each sector of the electoral cycle: the pre-election, the polling, and the post-election periods. The observations were gathered through the deployment of 7240 trained observers: 210 Long Term Observers (LTOs)…more

The Mutoko North Constituency seat fell vacant following the elevation of Mabel Chinomona to the position of President of the Senate. The Mutoko North by-election was thus held in line with Section 129 (1) (d) of the Constitution1.

The Chegutu East Local Authority seat was necessitated by the death of the incumbent Councillor for ward 16, Silas Chikati on 10 September 2018. The Nomination Court for Mutoko North sat on 12 October 2018 to consider applications of nominees for the by-election…more

On 30 March 2019, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) conducted a local authority by-election for Cowdray Park (Ward 28) to fill a vacancy that had arisen following the death of the incumbent Councillor, Hapson Ncube, who died in December 2018. Cowdray Park is in Bulawayo Metropolitan Province and is one of the three wards that make up Luveve Constituency, the other 2 wards being Gwabalanda (Ward 16) and Luveve (Ward 15). The ward has a voting population of 23 257 which is one of the largest in the province.  Accordingly, ZEC established 36 polling stations for use in this by election…more

ZESN REPORT ON THE MUTASA RURAL DISTRICT COUNCIL WARD 10 BY-ELECTION...more

On 3 August 2019, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) conducted a National Assembly by-election in Lupane East Constituency and two Local Authority By-elections for Ward 22 of Bubi Rural District Council (RDC) and Ward 23 of Nkayi RDC. All three by elections were held to fill vacancies that arose following the deaths of the incumbents…. more

On 7 September 2019, The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) conducted two National Assembly by-elections Glen View South and Mangwe and one Local Authority By-election in Masvingo Rural District Council (Ward 1).
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network deployed comprehensively to the Glen View South by-election, while observers were deployed to all ward collation centres in Mangwe…more

On 26 October 2019, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) conducted a local authority by-election in Ward 12 of Chiredzi Rural District Council. The by-election was held in accordance with section 121A of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13). The by-election was occasioned by the resignation of the previous councillor; Cllr Andrew Ndebele of the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) party who was elected in the July 31 2018 harmonised elections…more

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) observed the Zaka East National Assembly and Insiza Rural District Council (RDC) Ward 15 Local Authority by-elections conducted by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) on 21 September 2019. Both by-elections were necessitated by the death of office ZANU-PF bearers who won the seats in the 2018 harmonised elections…more

On 14 December 2019, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission held local authority by-elections in Tongogara Rural District Council Ward 6. The by-election was held in accordance with section 121A of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13). The Tongogara Ward 6 by-election was conducted following the death of the previous councillor, Edward Chitera, who was elected on a ZANU-PF ticket during the July 31, 2018 harmonised elections…more