15-September-2024 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) joins the global community in commemorating International Democracy Day, observed annually on September 15. This year’s theme, “Artificial Intelligence as a Tool for Good Governance,” highlights both the opportunities and challenges of integrating AI into electoral processes. Established by the UN General Assembly in 2007, International Democracy Day promotes the reflection on democracy’s global state and encourages governments to enhance democratic practices.
ZESN views Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a tool with transformative potential in Zimbabwe’s elections. AI can improve various aspects of electoral systems, such as enhancing voter registration through biometric voter registration (BVR) and improving the transparency of vote counting. The technology offers increased efficiency, accuracy, and the ability to detect electoral fraud by analyzing data patterns and irregularities.
Despite these advantages, the Network expresses concern over the lack of transparency in AI systems. Stakeholders such as election observers and civil society have raised concerns about the opacity of AI algorithms. Without proper oversight, AI could be misused to manipulate voter data, reinforce biases, or disenfranchise voters—issues that are particularly troubling in Zimbabwe, where electoral integrity has historically been a sensitive matter.
