12 November 2023 – In line with its mission to promote democratic free and fair electoral processes through objectively and impartially observing elections in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) observed the Gutu West National Assembly in Masvingo Province and Hurungwe Rural District Council (RDC) Ward 24, Kusile RDC Ward 13, Nkayi RDC Ward 11, Vungu RDC Ward 14 and Zvimba RDC Ward 23 Local Authority by-elections on 11 November 2023. The by-elections in which the ruling party won all except Kusile RDC Ward 13, were held after vacancies arose following the death of nominated candidates – Christopher Mutonhori Rwodzi, Gutu West Constituency Independent candidate; Muganhiri Richard, Zvimba Ward 23, Mtangi Myambo Vungu Ward 14, Nyoni Lisbert Sabelo Kusile Ward 13, Mpofu Jabulani, Nkayi Ward 11 and the death of the elected Councillor Faro Kuyerukana Hurungwe Ward 24.

Legal Framework

The by-elections were held under Sections 50 and 121A of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) for the National Assembly and Local Authority Councillors following the passing on of the candidates and incumbent respectively. The Nomination Court sat on 10 October 2023 to consider nominations for by-elections in Hurungwe RDC Ward 24, Kusile RDC Ward 13, Nkayi RDC Ward 11, Vungu RDC Ward 14 and Zvimba RDC Ward as well as Gutu West Constituency. For Gutu West constituency, Kurwa Robson (NCA), Morudu Ephraem (CCC), Mudzingwa Martin Sebastine (Independent) and Paradza John (ZANU-PF) were duly nominated as candidates. For Hurungwe RDC Ward 24, Kasirowe Ezekiel (CCC), Makumbe Jerry (ZANU-PF) were duly nominated, whilst for the Kusile RDC Ward 13 by-election, Gama Michael (ZAPU), Moyo Busani Kembo (UZA), Ncube Mthelisi (ZANU-PF) and Qonda Tarcissius (CCC) were successfully nominated as candidates. In Nkayi Ward 11, Khumalo Mubonisii (CCC), Mpofu Mzila (ZAPU), Ncube Mandla (ZANU-PF) and Ndlovu Philip (MDC-T) were nominated as candidates. In Vungu Ward 14, the Nomination Court approved the candidature of Matambiko
Annah Chipo (CCC) and Muchemwa Aaron (ZANU-PF), while in Zvimba RDC Chinanzvavana Manuel (CCC), Gomani Pamellah (Independent), Muganhiri Ceccillia (ZANU-PF) and Rabu Enock Junior (NCA) were duly nominated as candidates for the by-elections.

Observation methodology

In order to effectively gather, disseminate and communicate objective information about the by-elections, ZESN trained and deployed 65 static observers and seven (7) mobile observers in the National Assembly by-election in Gutu West Constituency, Masvingo Province and in Hurungwe Rural District Council (RDC) Ward 24, Kusile RDC Ward 13, Nkayi RDC Ward, 11 Vungu RDC Ward 14 and Zvimba RDC Ward 23 Local Authority By-elections. Of the 65 observers, 35 were deployed to Gutu West Constituency, 9 were deployed in Hurungwe RDC Ward 24, 5 in Kusile RDC Ward 13, 5 in Zvimba RDC Ward 23, 5 in Nkayi RDC Ward 11 and 6 in Vungu RDC Ward 14. The observer deployment strategy ensured that ZESN had observers covering all the Collation Centres at the respective wards and Constituency, in addition to selected polling stations.

The findings and recommendations of this preliminary statement are made in reference to the Electoral Laws of Zimbabwe, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Principles and Guidelines Governing the Conduct of Democratic Elections as well as other regional and African election guidelines and principles. This preliminary statement is based on reports received from the ZESN observers.

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21-08-2023- On 23 August 2023, Zimbabwe will hold its harmonised elections, namely; the Local Authority, National Assembly and the Presidential elections. The elections are being held under new electoral boundaries drawn by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). ZESN extols the government for implementing some electoral reforms, which include; the ratification of the African Charter on Democracy, Governance and Elections (ACDEG) in 2022; the amendment of the Census and Statistics Act in 2020 to push forward the population census to pave way for the delimitation of electoral boundaries by the ZEC, the Constitution Amendment Number 2 which introduced the Youth Quota in the National Assembly and the extension of the Women’s Quota by another ten years in the National Assembly.
Delimitation of Electoral Boundaries
The Delimitation of election boundaries is one of the key electoral processes that preceded the 2023 harmonized elections. The ZEC is constitutionally mandated to undertake this process. The 2023 delimitation was ZEC’s first delimitation process since 2008 when the last exercise was undertaken. The process and outcome was shrouded in controversies that included, the inadequate stakeholder engagements, reliance on a preliminary Census report (as opposed to the final report) and the formula applied in determining average voter population for each constituency. Following the release of the delimitation report, a court application was filed by a political party seeking the nullification or revision of the ZEC Delimitation report to make descriptions of boundaries clearer and to apply the correct formula in determining the average voter population for each constituency. The dismissal of the Court challenge means that Zimbabwe harmonised polls will be conducted under the newly delimited boundaries.

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The Election Resource Centre (ERC) and the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) have trained and deployed accredited observers to every constituency, district and province in the country for the 2023 harmonised elections. This Midday Statement is based on reports received from these observers although it is provisional in nature as the data collection process is ongoing. While this update is focused only on the opening of polls, ERC and ZESN’s overall assessment of the 2023 harmonised elections will be based on the entire electoral cycle processes and not just Election Day observations. ERC and ZESN intend to issue a preliminary statement on the conduct of voting and counting on the afternoon of Thursday 24 August 2023 at the Holiday Inn in Harare.

ERC and ZESN have observed that where their observers are deployed, no incidents was recorded, except the widespread cases of intimidation of voters through the setting up of exit polls and recording names by ZANU-PF.

Furthermore, ERC and ZESN observed the late opening of polling stations, which is disproportionately concentrated in urban centers, particularly Harare and Bulawayo Metropolitan Provinces, and represents a substantial voting population. At least 11% of observers across the country reported that their polling station did not open until after 8 am, with 7% reporting significant delays where the polling station had not yet opened by 9am, over two hours after the official opening time. The ZEC has acknowledged the late openings in polling, attributed to missing local authority ballot papers. While the ZEC has announced that stations afflicted by delays may stay open late after the traditional 7 pm closing time, this problem nonetheless seriously disenfranchises voters in those areas who may not be able to wait in long queues for hours, or risk voting late at night.

Additional findings from the opening process noted by ERC and ZESN include:

Posting of Voters Roll Outside the Polling Station: ZEC’s posting of the voters roll outside of polling stations can help support voter information and participation, particularly since some voters have been shifted to new polling stations following the delimitation of electoral boundaries process. However, so far 9% of observers noted that the voters roll was not available outside their polling station.

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The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) refutes allegations levelled against it by the Zimbabwe African National Union–Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) Finance Department on training of polling agents that will participate in the upcoming 23 August 2023 elections.

It is alleged in the ZANU-PF Finance Department Press Statement that was issued and signed by the Treasurer General Patrick Chinamasa yesterday (20 June 2023) that….“It has come to the notice of the ZANU-PF Department of Finance that the UK, France, Australia, USAID, Sweden, Japan, the US Embassy in Harare, the US based National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the EU, USA and the UK funded Zimbabwe Election Support network (ZESN) and Election Resource Centre (ERC) have announced that they are putting together a donation of US$10m for the training of 12,500 election agents for each of the political parties participating in the forthcoming harmonised elections.

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ZESN has implored the government to implement electoral reforms in line with the dictates of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG) which it ratified in 2022. The call was made against the backdrop of the 60 anniversary of Africa Day observed on 25 May which ran under the theme “Acceleration of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) implementation.”

In recognition of the importance of democracy, African governments adopted the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG). Article 2 (3) of the ACDEG accentuates the significance of ‘regular free and fair elections to institutionalize legitimate authority of representative government as well as democratic change of governments’. ACDEG also seeks to ‘promote best practices in the management of elections for purposes of political stability and good governance’ and to ensure Read More

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