ZESN Situational Statement on Chegutu Ward 2 Local Authority by-election

21 March 2020-Harare-The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) is observing the Ward 2 Chegutu Municipality Local Authority by-election. The Chegutu Ward 2 seat fell vacant following the death of MDC Alliance Councillor, Memory Banda in December 2019. The by-election is being held in accordance with Section 121A of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13). While ZESN acknowledges the importance of holding by-elections within the stipulated time frames, ZESN is concerned with the holding of the by-election in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Typically local authority by-elections have not attracted queues of over 30 people at any given time during polling…more

ZESN Preliminary Statement on the Chimanimani Rural District Council Ward 16 and Mangwe Rural District Council Ward 17 By-elections

In line with its mission to promote democratic elections in Zimbabwe, ZESN observed the Chimanimani Rural District Council (RDC) Ward 16 and Mangwe RDC Ward 17 local authority by-elections. Both seats fell vacant following the death of ZANU-PF Councillors who won in the 2018 harmonised elections. The Chimanimani Ward 16 seat fell vacant following the death of Tendai Nyabaya while the Mangwe Ward 17 seat fell vacant following the death of Majahana Alfred Clement. The by-elections were held in accordance with Section 121A of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13)…more

ZESN Situational Statement on Chimanimani Rural District Council Ward 16 and Mangwe Rural District Council Ward 17 Local Authority By-elections

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) is observing the Chimanimani Rural District Council Ward 16 and Mangwe Rural District Council Ward 17 Local Authority by-elections. The Chimanimani Ward 16 Local Authority, which covers areas such as Gwindingwi, Silverstream and Duri among other villages, fell vacant following the death of ZANU-PF Councillor, Tendai Nyabaya, in December 2019. The Mangwe Ward 17 seat fell vacant following the death of ZANU-PF Councillor, Majahana Alfred Clement, in January 2020. The by-elections are being held in accordance with Section 121A of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13)…more

ZESN Situational Statement on the Harare Municipality (Kuwadzana) Ward 44 and Mwenezi Rural District Council Ward 15 Local Authority By-elections

08 February 2020 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) trained and deployed observers to observe polling proceedings at polling stations in Harare Municipality (Kuwadzana) Ward 44 and Ward 15 of Mwenezi Rural District Council (RDC). Observers were deployed at six out of 12 polling stations in Harare Ward 44 and six out of 11 in the Mwenezi Ward 15 RDC by-elections. ZESN also deployed observers at the Ward Collation Centres for both by-elections…more

ZESN Preliminary Statement on the Tongogara Rural District Council Ward 6 local authority by election (1)

15 December 2019 – The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission conducted a by-election in Ward 6 of Tongogara Rural District Council (RDC). The by-election was held in accordance with section 121A of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) following the death of the previous councillor, Edward Chitera, who was elected on a ZANU-PF ticket in the July 31, 2018 harmonised elections…more

Preliminary Statement on the Tsholotsho Rural District Council Wards 16 and 20, and Wedza Rural District Council Ward 4 Local Authority By-elections

10 November 2019 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) deployed static observers to track electoral developments in the three local authority by-elections conducted by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) on 9 November 2019. The Tsholotsho by-elections were conducted following the expulsion of former ZANU-PF Councillors, Ngwenya Patrick Hlakaza for Ward 16 and Gideon Ndlovu for Ward 20, accused of embezzling Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources (CAMPFIRE) funds. The Wedza RDC Ward 4 seat fell vacant following the death of former ZANU-PF Councillor, Alderman Samson Makamba. Two parties, ZANU-PF and the MDC Alliance fielded candidates that contested in all the three by-elections…more

ZESN Preliminary Statement on the Chiredzi Rural District Council Ward 12 by-election

26 October 2019 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) deployed observers at the two polling stations and the Ward Collation Centre in the Chiredzi Rural District Council Ward 12 by-election. The by-election was held in accordance with Section 121A of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) following the resignation of the previous councillor, Cllr Andrew Ndebele, of the ZANU-PF party who was elected in the July 31 2018 harmonised elections. The Nomination Court sat on Wednesday 25 September 2019 to consider applications from prospective candidates to fill the local authority seat vacancy.  At the close of nomination, two candidates were dully nominated; Mazhata John of the MDC Alliance and Rukanda Arnold of ZANU-PF…more