19 July 2019 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) notes with concern the purported request by the ZANU PF Political Commissariat for medicine supplies at local clinics as assistance in respect of the Lupane East by-election campaign scheduled for 3 August 2019. While ZESN acknowledges the right for political parties to solicit for votes during the campaigning period, this act violates the principles of democracy…… more

15 July 2019 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) observed the Nyanga Rural District Council (RDC) Ward 26 and Bikita RDC Ward 31 by-elections. Ward 26 of Nyanga RDC is found in Nyanga South Constituency while Ward 31 of Bikita RDC falls under Bikita East Constituency. The Zimbabwe African Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and the MDC Alliance (MDC-A) contested in both by-elections while, in addition to these parties, the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) also contested in the Bikita by-election…..more

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

10 November 2019 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) deployed static observers to track electoral developments in the three local authority by-elections conducted by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) on 9 November 2019. The Tsholotsho by-elections were conducted following the expulsion of former ZANU-PF Councillors, Ngwenya Patrick Hlakaza for Ward 16 and Gideon Ndlovu for Ward 20, accused of embezzling Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) funds. The Wedza RDC Ward 4 seat fell vacant following the death of former ZANU-PF Councillor, Alderman Samson Makamba. Two parties, ZANU-PF and the MDC Alliance fielded candidates that contested in all the three by-elections…more

26 October 2019 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) deployed observers at the two polling stations and the Ward Collation Centre in the Chiredzi Rural District Council Ward 12 by-election. The by-election was held in accordance with Section 121A of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) following the resignation of the previous councillor, Cllr Andrew Ndebele, of the ZANU-PF party who was elected in the July 31 2018 harmonised elections. The Nomination Court sat on Wednesday 25 September 2019 to consider applications from prospective candidates to fill the local authority seat vacancy.  At the close of nomination, two candidates were dully nominated; Mazhata John of the MDC Alliance and Rukanda Arnold of ZANU-PF…more

22 September 2019 – Harare – In pursuit of its mission to promote democratic elections in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) observed the Zaka East National Assembly and Insiza Rural District Council Ward 15 by-elections. A total of 17 observers were deployed to observe the two by-elections. This preliminary statement is based on reports received from ZESN observers…more

08 September 2019 – Harare – In pursuit of its mission to promote democratic elections in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) observed the Glen View South National Assembly, Mangwe National Assembly, and Masvingo Rural District Council Ward 1 by-elections. A total of 56 observers were deployed to observe the three by-elections. This preliminary statement is based on reports received from ZESN observers… more

29-08-2019 (Harare) – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) notes with concern the timing of the drilling of 15 boreholes by the District Development Fund (DDF) in Glen View South which ZANU-PF seems to have taken advantage of in its campaigns ahead of a by-election scheduled to be held on 7 September 2019 in the Constituency…. more

09- June 2019 – Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) observed Kadoma Central Ward 2 local authority by-election held 8 June 2019. This is part of its comprehensive efforts to observe all elections and electoral processes in Zimbabwe. In this by-election, ZESN deployed 5 polling station based observers, a ward collation centre observer and a  mobile team assessing the political environment outside the polling stations….more