12 March 2019 – BULAWAYO – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) held a post-2018 harmonised election conference on 7 and 8 March 2019 in Bulawayo. The overall objective of the Conference was to review the conduct of the 2018 harmonised elections focusing on the legislative and administrative framework, the political environment, role of observers, electoral reform process, and recommendations by election observer missions among other pertinent factors…more

Gender parity in electoral processes key to achieving development – ZESN

8 March 2019 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) joins the rest of the world in commemorating International Women’s Day (IWD). The IWD is commemorated each year on the 9^th of March to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women while calling for gender equality. This year, the campaign is running under the theme #Think equal, build smart, innovate for change…more

Harare – 24 February 2019 – As part of its comprehensive efforts to observe the local authority by-elections in Beitbridge East Ward 15, Chitungwiza South Ward 24 and Matobo North Ward 25, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) trained and deployed 17 election observers to every polling station in the three wards. The by-elections are the first to be held in 2019…more

Harare – 23 February 2019 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) has deployed over 17 trained and accredited observers to every polling station in Beitbridge East Ward 15, Chitungwiza South Ward 24 and Matobo North Ward 25 by-elections. In addition, there are three mobile teams in the wards observing the voting process as well as the political environment outside the polling stations.  This midday Situational Statement is based on reports received from the polling station based and mobile election observers in the three local authority wards…more

Harare- 22 February 2019 – Three Local Authority by-elections will be held on Saturday 23 February 2019 in Beitbridge East Ward 15, Chitungwiza South Ward 24 and Matobo North Ward 25. The seats fell vacant following the death of the incumbent councillors namely Alice Chihambakwe of Chitungwiza, Clara Ndlovu of Matobo and Boy Maniere Ndou of Beitbridge. ZESN is deploying 17 polling station based observers covering all polling stations, and three (3) mobile observer teams…more

7 February 2019 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) notes the call by President Emmerson Mnangagwa for dialogue with political parties that participated in the 30 July 2018 harmonised elections. ZESN reiterates its position that the dialogue must be inclusive of all electoral stakeholders namely civic society organisations, churches, the media, women, persons with disability and youths among others. Pursuant to calls by various electoral stakeholders for inclusive multi-stakeholder dialogue on electoral and political reforms, ZESN believes that it is imperative for the dialogue to culminate in an electoral and political reforms…more

Harare – 5 February 2019 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) notes the establishment of an inter-ministerial taskforce to address recommendations and issues raised by the various election observer missions and the Motlanthe Commission on the 1 August 2018 shootings. ZESN however, urges government to set up an inclusive multi stakeholder taskforce comprising of a wide range of key stakeholders such as other political parties that participated in the 2018 harmonised election, churches and civic society groups…more

Harare – 25 January 2019 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) has noted with concern the recent violent protests characterised by looting, vandalism of property and infrastructure as well as the heavy handed response by the security forces resulting in deaths and injury of civilians.  While ZESN acknowledges the right to demonstrate as part of freedom of expression as enshrined in the Constitution…more

Election Update – As part of its oversight mandate of promoting democratic electoral environment and processes in Zimbabwe, The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) will be observing the Chitungwiza South Ward 24 Local Authority by-elections slated for the 26th of January 2018. ZESN has since trained and deployed a long term observer in the ward and will also deploy static observers to cover the polling stations on polling day…more

Harare – 25 November 2018 – As part of its comprehensive efforts to observe the Mutoko North National Assembly and Chegutu East Local Authority by-elections, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) trained and deployed 82 election observers to every polling station, ward and constituency collation centres in the Mutoko North constituency and Ward 16 of Chegutu East Local Authority. The Mutoko North by-election is the first National Assembly by-election to be held after the 30 July 2018 Harmonised elections while the Chegutu East Local Authority by-election is the second…more