8 March 2018 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) joins the rest of the world in commemorating International Women’s Day (IWD). The day is set aside 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 #PressForProgress. In line with this year’s theme, ZESN calls upon women from all walks of life in Zimbabwe to fully participate in this year’s electoral processes…more

2 March 2018 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) notes the pronouncements made by the Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) that the provisional voters’ roll will be out by early April 2018. In order to afford electoral stakeholders ample time to plan various interventions in support of the various electoral processes preceding the 2018 elections, ZESN reiterates its calls for a detailed operational plan, election calendar and a comprehensive 2018 electoral roadmap. Whereas ZESN appreciates the indicative timelines given by the ZEC Chairperson regarding the availability of the provisional voters’ roll, the Network believes that a detailed roadmap with specific start and end dates for key electoral processes should be availed forthwith…more

1 February 2018 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) notes the appointment of Justice Priscilla Chigumba as the new Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). ZESN calls upon the newly appointed Chairperson to spearhead the requisite legislative and administrative reforms to ensure that the 2018 elections are, free, fair and credible…more

11 January 2018 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) notes the Biometric Voter Registration mop up which commenced on 10 January 2018 in response to calls by various stakeholders for an extension of the registration exercise. Voter registration is one of the most critical elements of an electoral cycle as such ZESN urges the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to avail adequate voter education in the areas where the mop up exercise is being conducted.   As ZEC concludes the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) exercise, ZESN reiterates its calls for a complete, accurate and comprehensive voters’ roll, a clear election roadmap, the creation of a conducive political environment among other key electoral processes leading up to the 2018 elections…more

12 December 2017 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) notes the resignation of Justice Rita Makarau as Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). The resignation of Justice Makarau comes at a critical time in Zimbabwe’s electoral cycle with key electoral processes such as the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) blitz underway. ZESN calls upon the government to expedite the appointment of the new ZEC chairperson in line with Section 238 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, to ensure that there is ample time to acclimatize to the new position and oversee key electoral processes before the next elections..read more

Harare – 16 November 2017- The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), a coalition of 32 Non-Governmental Organizations whose mandate is the promotion of democratic electoral processes in Zimbabwe, notes the prevailing political impasse in the country. Guided by its vision of a Zimbabwe where democratic electoral processes are upheld, ZESN calls for inclusive dialogue to resolve this political impasse…more

2 November 2017 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) a coalition of 32 Non-Governmental Organisations promoting democratic elections in Zimbabwe is observing the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) exercise which commenced on 10 October 2017. The Network will deploy a total of 2000 observers to cover all the Four Phases of the BVR blitz, to date 938 observers have been deployed…more

Harare – 6 October 2017 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) notes with concern the recent changes by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to the voter registration roll out plan and the dates for accreditation of observers for the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) exercise. ZESN and other electoral stakeholders have repeatedly called for a comprehensive electoral roadmap and the timeous availing of crucial electoral information in order to facilitate the smooth implementation of activities around key electoral processes….more

4 August 2017 – Harare – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) notes the gazetting of Statutory Instrument 85 of 2017 by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) on the 21st of July 2017 in accordance with Section 192 of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13]. ZESN made submissions to the draft regulations on various provisions with a view of assisting ZEC to strengthen the regulations. Despite the presence of progressive provisions in the regulations, ZESN notes that there are a number of gaps that need to be addressed…more

Harare – 26 July 2017 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) calls upon the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to expedite the procurement of the software for the central database or central Automated Finger Identification System (AFIS). While the BVR kits will capture each voter’s fingerprints, facial photograph and other personal information such as name, surname, sex, address, another integral component of the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) system is the AFIS…more