Publications

ZESN Report on Citizen Perceptions on Delimitation of Electoral boundaries in Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) is pleased to publish its research report on the Delimitation of Electoral Boundaries. The report is a culmination of research conducted by ZESN over a period of 3 months. The report reviews the legal framework for delimitation, the public’s understanding of the issues on boundaries delimitation and their expectation from the various actors on the issues of boundaries’ delimitation in Zimbabwe. The report also provides sentiments and expectations from citizens on the delimitation process. A case study focusing on Kenya is contained in the report from which Zimbabwe can draw lessons from…more

ZESN Chitungwiza South Ward 24, Beitbridge East Ward 15 and Matobo North Ward 25 by-elections update

Introduction

The first by-elections of 2019 will be held on Saturday 23 February 2019 in three local authorities namely Chitungwiza Ward 24, Matobo Ward 25 and Beitbridge Ward 15. The Chitungwiza South Local Authority by-election was initially scheduled to hold on 26 January 2019 but was postponed by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) following the violence that broke out during demonstrations in January. The three by-elections shall take place in accordance with section 125 subsection 4(b) of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13]…more

Report on the ZESN, Audit of the Voters’ Roll

The ZESN conducted an audit of the 2018 Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) voters’ rolls. The audit was conducted to provide independent non-partisan information on the quality of the 2018 PVR and the 2018 FVR to all stakeholders, including: the ZEC, political parties, civic organizations, and citizens. The methodology of the voters’ roll audit encompassed conducting computer audits, people-to-list and list-to-people field tests…more

Update 3 ZESN LTO Report for Mutoko North Constituency

Introduction

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) continues to observe the pre-election environment and key electoral processes in Mutoko North constituency ahead of the by-election set for Saturday 24 November 2018. This Long Term Observers’ (LTOs) report covers the period from 28 October to 10 November 2018…more

A comparative Analysis of the Mutoko North Constituency Voters Roll

The Mutoko North Constituency by-election will be held on the 24^th of November 2018.  As part of its oversight role on electoral processes and elections, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), conducted a computer audit of the Mutoko North Constituency voters roll, to provide an independent assessment of the quality of the register. The audit encompassed assessing accuracy, currency/ validity and comprehensiveness / completeness of the voters roll.  This report thus presents the outcome of the computer audit. A number of tests were conducted in accordance with an established methodology…more

ZESN LTO Update No.2 on the Mutoko North By-Election

Introduction

This report presents an update of the political environment and electoral processes ahead of the Mutoko North Constituency and the Chegutu Rural District Council (RDC) by-elections. A vacancy in Chegutu RDC, Ward 16 occurred following the death, on 10 September 2018, of the ZANU-PF councilor, Silas Chikati, who had been declared duly elected in the 30 July harmonized elections. According to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) electoral roadmap for the by-election, in line with the Electoral Act, on 21 September 2018, the Chief Executive Officer of Chegutu RDC notified the Chief Elections Officer of the vacancy…more

Voters Roll Audit Report 2018

The ZESN conducted an audit of the 2018 Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) voters’ rolls. The audit was conducted to provide independent non-partisan information on the quality of the 2018 PVR and the 2018 FVR to all stakeholders, including: the ZEC, political parties, civic organizations, and citizens. The methodology of the voters’ roll audit encompassed conducting computer audits, people-to-list and list-to-people field tests. ZESN examined accuracy, currency and completeness of the voters’ rolls provided…more

Post Election Long Term Observer Report

Prior to the 2018 Harmonised election, ZESN released a number of statements and reports informed by its Long Term Observers (LTOs) who had been deployed to observe the political environment and key electoral processes during the pre-electoral, electoral and post electoral period. On Election Day, ZESN issued a pre-election assessment statement, mid-day statement, and a report on projections of presidential election results based on its Sample Based Observation methodology. ZESN LTOs have been observing the post-election environment processes in their respective constituencies and this report is based on post-election observations…more

ZESN Analysis of ZEC Presidential Results by Polling Station Final

The ten files in total contained ZEC Presidential Results by Polling Station. These files contain presidential results information for 10,984 polling stations. The files are not without errors. But these are relatively few in number to systematically benefit any candidate. The polling station results reported by the SBO observers as collected at the polling stations is highly consistent with ZEC Presidential Results by Polling Station. For the 750 sampled polling stations, 96.8% of the data is an exact match between what was reported by the SBO observers and what is contained in the ZEC Presidential Results by Polling Station files…more

ISSUE 3 PRE-ELECTION LONG TERM OBSERVER (LTO) UPDATE

29 July 2018 – In general, the environment in the past few days was reported to be peaceful. No cases of violence were reported by LTOs. Reports show that, in violation of the law, political parties were still campaigning on Sunday 29 July 2018, in most of the constituencies around the country. Most of the reported cases involved the ZANU-PF and MDC Alliance parties. eg. MDC and ZANUPF were winding up their campaigns in Masvingo Province, Gutu South, and distributing party regalia. The same was reported for Silobela and other constituencies…more

ISSUE 2 – ZESN LTO REPORT ON THE PRE-ELECTION ENVIRONMENT AND OBSERVATION OF KEY PROCESSES

This report focuses on the period from 08 to 14 July 2018 and gives an update on ZESN findings from its Long Term Observers (LTOs) based in all the 210 constituencies around the country and from its core teams in Harare and Bulawayo. Over the reporting period, LTOs reported that local ZEC offices were mainly involved in the recruitment and training of polling staff…more

ZESN REPORT ON PRE-ELECTION POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT AND OBSERVATION OF KEY ELECTORAL PROCESSES

Introduction

ZESN deployed 210 Long Term Observers (LTOs) to observe the political environment and key electoral processes in the run-up to the 30 July 2018 harmonised elections. This report is based on observations made by the LTOs between 18 May and 07 July 2018 in their respective constituencies from across the country’s 10 provinces. However ZESN produced several thematic reports during the same reporting period, including a report inspection of the voters’ roll, the nomination court, and primary elections for political parties. Figure 1 below is a map showing the areas from which the reports were received. During this period LTOs attended 300 political rallies, met with local stakeholders including the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), civil society organisations, politicians and other prominent members of society…more

ZESN Report on the Nomination Court Observations

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) deployed Long Term Observers (LTOs) to observe the Nomination Court proceedings in all 10 provinces across the country. The Nomination Court sat on 14 June 2018 to receive papers from candidates for local authority, National Assembly, and presidential elections set for 30 July 2018. The LTOs observed proceedings in a total of 116 Nomination Courts including Ward level, national assembly and the presidential nomination courts across all 10 provinces on the day of the court sitting, 14 June 2018…more

Report on the Inspection of the Provisional Voters’ Roll

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) observed the public inspection of the provisional voters’ roll which was conducted by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) from 19-29 May 2018. The findings in this report are primarily informed by the Long Term Observers (LTOs) that ZESN deployed to the National Assembly Constituencies throughout the country…more

ZESN Biometric Voter Registration Observation Report

The following is a comprehensive analysis and documentation of the Zimbabwe Election Support Network’s (ZESN’s) observation of the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) process in Zimbabwe. It covers all the critical moments of the BVR process from its inauguration and inception in September 2017 to completion of the extended BVR Blitz exercise in February 2018…more

Kenya Voter Registration Learning Mission Report

The legal framework of Kenya provides for continuous voter registration. However for the purposes of the 2017 general elections, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) conducted a Mass Voter registration excise in two phases, the first in 2016 and the second from 16 January to 14 February 2017. These timelines were provided for in the electoral regulations and this was the final Mass Voter Registration (MVR) to be conducted before the 8 August 2017 general elections…more

A comparative analysis of the Main and Supplementary voters’ registers of Marondera Central constituency

The Audit of the voters’ register for the Marondera Central was carried out in the period 21 to 25 September 2015. The analysis constituted of a study of the two 2015 registers focusing mostly on areas of accuracy, completeness and currency of the two registers. The 2015 register was presented in 2 forms – the main register and the supplementary register…Read more

Challenges in attaining Gender balance in elections in Zimbabwe

Women face challenges in political parties, council and parliamentary elections. The legal framework and legislation governing elections and the process of getting elected into council and parliament in Zimbabwe is described, based on the views of women from political parties…more

ZESN Analysis of the General Laws Amendment Act (2016)

The General Laws Amendment Act (GLAA) was gazetted and became part of the laws of the land on 1 July 2016. The analysis focusses on the extent to which the latest amendments address the concerns around the electoral law, and in particular the extent to which these amendments give effect to the letter and spirit of the Constitution…more