The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) welcomes the Proclamation of the 2023 harmonised elections. Under Statutory Instrument 85 of 2023 President Emmerson Mnangangwa, fixed 23 August 2023 as polling day and June 21 as the date on which Nomination Courts would sit countrywide to accept applications by political parties and their candidates to take part in the polls.

The Network commends government for implementing some electoral reforms which include: the ratification of the African Charter on Democracy, Governance and Elections (ACDEG); the amendment of the Census and Statistics Act to push forward the population census to pave way for the delimitation of electoral boundaries, the amendment of the Constitution which saw the introduction of the Youth Quota in the National Assembly and the extension of the Women’s Quota by a further ten years in the National Assembly.Read More

THE ZIMBABWE Election Support Network (ZESN) conducted voter education outreach activities as part of its efforts to compliment the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) following the commencement of nation-wide biometric voter registration blitz from the 12 to the 26 of March 2023. This registration blitz was conducted by the Commission as part of it efforts to increase the number of people who participate in electoral processes in Zimbabwe as the nation draws nearer to the 2023 harmonised elections.

The activities facilitated by ZESN’s Secretariat, Provincial coordinators and taskforce members included community hall meetings, roadshows and the distribution of information education and communication materials such as fliers, posters, branded, hats, caps and wrappers across all the 10 provinces of Zimbabwe. ZESN also conducted BVR media and publicity campaigns and utilized popular artist Tocky Vibes, social media, still images, jingles, radio programmes, print and TV adverts to increase awareness of the ZEC voter registration blitz that was taking place and to educate the electorate about the fundamental right of voting.Read More

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) has implored youth to actively participate in electoral processes in line with Section 67 of the Zimbabwean Constitution ahead of the 2023 harmonized elections. ZESN Chairperson Andrew Makoni made the call while commemorating this year’s edition of the National Youth Day which falls on the 21st of February. The National Youth Day was established to recognize youths and their contributions to different areas in the country comes at a time when the country is preparing for the 2023 harmonized elections.

“Whilst the youth are an important demographic group in the country constituting 67.7% of the total population, their participation and representation in key governance processes remains low due to lower voter registration and low turnout during polling,” said Makoni. He added that, “ZESN thus, implores youths to exercise their constitutional rights through taking part in continuous voter registration as well as participate in various electoral processes peacefully.

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The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) joins the nation in commemorating the National Youth Day and calls for active participation of youth in electoral processes in line with Section 67 of the Zimbabwean Constitution. The National Youth Day, established to recognize youths and their contributions to different areas in the country comes at a time when the country is preparing for the 2023 harmonized elections.

Whilst the youth are an important demographic group in the country constituting 67.7% of the total population, their participation and representation in key governance processes remains low due to lower voter registration and low turnout during polling. ZESN thus, implores youths to exercise their constitutional rights through taking part in continuous voter registration as well as in participating in various electoral processes peacefully.Read More