Zimbabwe held by-elections to fill in vacancies in the National Assembly and Local Authorities
on 26 March 2022. The seats fell vacant mostly as a result of recalls that ensued following
internal party squabbles within the main opposition, the MDC Alliance that were settled by the
courts. Table 1 below shows the causes of the occurrence of vacancies in National Assembly
constituencies where by-elections were held. Contrary to what would ordinarily happen, the
by-elections were held long after the lapse of the 90-day period within which vacancies should
be constitutionally filled in. This was because of the indefinite suspension of by-elections by the
government on account of the COVID-19 pandemic and in spite of the opening of other sectors
of the country and resumption of other activities such as physical church gatherings, reopening
of schools, restaurants, bars and other public facilities.
PRELIMINARY STATEMENT ON THE 26 MARCH 2022 BY-ELECTION OBSERVATIONS
On 26 March 2022, Zimbabweans across 28 constituencies and 122 local authorities went to the
polls to cast their votes for the long delayed parliamentary and local authority by-elections. The
indefinite delay was reasoned on the basis of the COVID-19 pandemic and upheld under Statutory
Instrument 225A of 2020 (SI 2020-225A) and (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and
Treatment) (Amendment) Regulations, 2020, No 4). Ordinarily, and in line with Section 158 (3)
of the Constitution and Sections 39 and 121 of the Electoral Act, by-elections to fill in vacancies
are held within 90 days of the vacancy having arisen. For these by-elections, the Election Resource
Centre (ERC) and Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) deployed more than 400 trained
and accredited election day observers including deploying 206 observers to six priority
constituencies; Binga North, Chivi South, Epworth, Kwekwe Central, Murewa South, and Mutasa
South where Sample-Based Observations (SBOs) were conducted using a statistically
representative sample of polling stations. Given the timing, it was not possible to conduct SBOs
for all 28 by-elections. These six constituencies were selected to provide geographic spread and to
reflect the political diversity of the country.
This statement on the conduct of the elections is based on ERC and ZESN’s direct observation of
the processes of voting, counting and posting of results for those six constituencies and follows
ERC and ZESN’s situational statements on the opening and set-up of polling stations released 25
March 2022.
SITUATIONAL STATEMENT MARCH 26 BY-ELECTIONN OBSERVATION
Today Zimbabweans across 28 constituencies and 122 local authorities head to the polls to cast
their votes for the long delayed parliamentary and local authority by-elections. The political
environment during the pre-election period was marred by issues of political violence, election related intimidation, and attempts to limit electoral competition through the restriction of campaign
activities. Voter information and education associated with the voter registration process has not
been comprehensive enough ahead of the by-elections. This shortcoming in public engagement,
when viewed alongside the administration of the two different voters’ rolls in constituencies where
there are concurrent elections for the National Assembly and Ward by-elections, has resulted in
confusion amongst voters in the affected areas. Stakeholders have also expressed concern over the
quality and integrity of the voters’ roll, which was further compounded by the delay by the
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s (ZEC) in sharing the official voters’ roll for analysis.
It is against this background that Election Resource Centre (ERC) and Zimbabwe Election Support
Network (ZESN) deployed more than 400 trained and accredited election day observers. ERC and
ZESN are using complementary methodologies of mobile and stationary observers to assess the
election day processes at the polling stations across the 28 constituencies. Observer reports are
used to provide citizens and key stakeholders with accurate, independent, timely, and credible
information on the overall election process.
Statement on African Charter on Democracy
As Zimbabwe readies for the 2023 harmonized elections, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) implores the government of Zimbabwe to implement electoral reforms in line with the dictates of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG).
Some of these reforms include; the need to create a conducive electoral environment that will see the effective participation of citizens without fear, as well as reviewing outstanding electoral administration issues which will lead to free, fair and credible elections; enhancing the participation of women; the youth and people with disabilities in electoral processes as candidates and voters; extending voting rights to those in the diaspora and prisons; and the setting up of the Integrity and Ethics Committee to deal with the misdemeanors of traditional leaders in elections. This follows the completion of the formal ratification procedures for ACDEG by the Government of Zimbabwe. After depositing the Instrument of Ratification to the African Union, it means that Zimbabwe has become a State Party bound by the Charter. ZESN and other CSOs have been lobbying for the ratification of the Charter which was signed on the 21st March 2018 at an AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government in Rwanda by President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
ERC & ZESN Statement on Phase 1 of Voter Registration
As part of their commitment to support democratic development and promote credible, transparent, and accountable electoral processes in Zimbabwe, the Election Resource Centre (ERC) and Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) observed the first phase of the registration blitz and shall observe the second phase of the BVR blitz on an independent and nonpartisan basis for all Zimbabweans. The joint observation effort serves to provide citizens and key stakeholders with accurate, independent, timely, and credible information on the BVR blitz process. ERC and ZESN’s further objective is to ensure the BVR blitz is transparent, inclusive, and accountable as well as follows regional and international best practices.
ZESN STATEMENT ON POLITICAL AND ELECTORAL VIOLENCE
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) implores electoralstakeholders to foster peace ahead of the March 26 by-elections and 2023 harmonized elections. The network is deeply concerned about the recent spate of inter-party as well as intra-party violence that occurred which taints the credibility of electoral processes.
The recent violent clashes have a potential to adversely affect the turnout of citizens on the ongoing voter registration exercise as violence impacts negatively on the participation in electoral processes especially of women and people with disabilities. Political and electoral related violence undermines civil and political rights and affects citizens’ right to compete in electoral processes. Also; it erodes trust in democratic processes as well as
undermines the quality of democracy thereby, limiting inclusive participation.
Furthermore, acts of violence often lead to voter apathy, especially among women and people with disabilities which in turn defeats the desired 50/50 approach to gender balance in electoral processes and leadership positions.
ERC & ZESN Deploy Observers for 2022 Voter Registration Blitz and Provides Analysis of Phase 1 List of Registration Centres
Introduction
As part of their commitment to support democratic development and promote credible, transparent,
and accountable electoral processes in Zimbabwe, the Election Resource Centre (ERC) and Zimbabwe
Election Support Network (ZESN) are observing the voter registration blitz on an independent and
nonpartisan basis for all Zimbabweans. The joint observation effort will provide citizens and key
stakeholders with accurate, timely, and credible information on the voter registration blitz.
ERC/ZESN Methodology
In order to gather factual and verifiable information on the conduct of the 2022 voter registration blitz,
ERC and ZESN deployed one volunteer per constituency who will observe periodically throughout
the entire voter registration process and provide weekly reports on the political environment. These
individuals were carefully recruited from local communities following a strict criterion and adhering
to gender balance. These observers underwent a thorough training program on the conduct of the voter
registration process, direction on what to observe, and when to report during the voter registration
period. Additionally, while at the training observers signed a code of conduct acknowledging that they
were non-partisan. ZESN and ERC will release periodic reports on the inclusivity, transparency and
accountability of the voter registration blitz.
ZESN COMMEMORATES INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS DAY
As the World celebrates International Human Rights Day today, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) implores all stakeholders to uphold fundamental human rights as they are integral to all human beings regardless of their nationality or gender. This is provided for in Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) – “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” International Day of Human Rights commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948. ‘Human rights’ refer to basic rights or freedoms that include people’s right to live, health, and education, freedom of speech and thoughts as well as equal rights.
ZESN PRESS STATEMENT ON IDs and MOBILE VOTER REGISTRATION
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has postponed the Mobile Voter Registration which was scheduled to commence on 6 December 2021 to February 2022, after realising that the Registrar General’s Office is currently not in a position to issue out national identity cards (IDs), citing lack of resources. ZEC has said that it cannot conduct its massive voter registration blitz, unless and until eligible voters have acquired national identity cards (IDs), which are a prerequisite for voter registration. Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) implores government to resource the Civil Registry in order to empower it to conduct an inclusive exercise of issuing national identity cards to eligible citizens.
Voting is a democratic right which only those who are registered to vote can enjoy. A national ID or valid passport is a requirement for one to be able to register to vote. Young people, citizens who lost IDs and those who have become eligible have been finding it difficult to get the IDs, threatening their disenfranchisement in electoral processes. Given that young people constitute the biggest demographic group in Zimbabwe, their participation in elections is critical as democracy is essentially about the participation of the majority.
ZESN CONCERNED ABOUT THE CONTINUED SUSPENSION OF BY-ELECTIONS
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) is concerned about the continued suspension of by-elections in light of the observations made regarding religious, political and social gatherings around the country. The Network observed that, recently, there has been a hive of activity with multitudes of congregates at religious or church gatherings and camps in Zimbabwe where concern about protecting peoples’ health does not seem to have been given equal weight as in the suspension of by-elections.
The opening up of businesses, schools, restaurants, and bars; the recent elections in Zambia and the ongoing local government elections in neighboring South Africa in the context of Covid-19, are a clear indication that by-elections can be held under strict Covid-19 protocols.
