MIDDAY STATEMENT FROM ELECTION RESOURCE CENTER (ERC) AND ZIMBABWE ELECTION SUPPORT NETWORK (ZESN)

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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ZESN PRE-ELECTION REPORT ONE

With an estimated three (3) months before the holding of harmonised elections in Zimbabwe, the
country is already in election mode with evident electioneering from political parties and other stakeholders. Zimbabwe’s main political parties have already started preparing for the elections as shown by how they are mobilising citizens to register to vote and have started holding rallies and campaign activities.

Although many preparations have been made for the elections, there is still much that needs to
be improved for the environment to ensure peaceful, transparent and credible elections. Zimbabwe has an unfortunate history of contested electoral outcomes. This is because the legal, administrative and political frameworks still have gaps that need to be attended to in order to ensure the discharge of democratic elections. Some of the issues that still need to be attended to include the need to enhance the Independence of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), and other independent commissions connected to the electoral cycle, ensuring the full participation of women, the youth and persons with disability in the electoral process, as voters and candidates as well as the need to review the legal provisions around voter registration and the voters’ roll.

Another contentious issue is on the Delimitation Report which was settled through the Courts. Although improvements have been noted in the provisions for civic and voter education, there are still some deficiencies that need to be addressed. On the legal framework, the Electoral Amendment Bill that was first gazetted on the 18th of November 2022 if passed without taking into consideration issues raised by other stakeholders will be very inadequate. It only addresses a few nominal issues and leaves out a host of substantive electoral reforms that stakeholders have been calling for. In addition to that, very little of the recommendations from the Election Observer Missions that were made after the 2018 elections has been implemented.

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ELECTORAL REFORMS TRACKING REPORT- AUGUST 2021- JANUARY 2022

The Electoral Reforms Tracking Report covers the period from 1 August to 31 January 2022. The repot consists of a record of socio-political developments relevant to electoral matters and the electoral environment. The report registers both positive and negative changes in so far as they are relevant to the electoral playing field and related matters.

It is  noted that like most of the world, Zimbabwe has been under COVID-19 regulatory frameworks since the declaration of the health challenge as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO). The regulatory framework put in place to deal with the pandemic has had an impact on several election related issues, including basic rights such as the right and freedom of association, petition, etc.

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ZESN PRELIMINARY STATEMENT OF THE MAY 7 2022 BYELECTIONS

In line with its mission to promote democratic elections in
Zimbabwe, ZESN observed local authority by-elections in the Chitungwiza Ward 7, Mutare
Ward 14 and 16, Rusape Ward 5, Pfura Ward 40, Kariba Ward 3, 4 and 8 as well as at the
Ward Collation Centres. The by-election were held in accordance with Section 121 A of the
Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) following the death of the incumbent Pfura Ward 40 Councillor
Doniah Jeke and the recalls of Mutare Mayor Blessing Tandi of Ward 14; Chitungwiza
Mayor Lovemore Maiko of Ward 7; Kariba Mayor George Masendu of Ward 4; Councillors
Farai Magevha of Ward 3 and Pedzisai Munhuweyi of Ward 8 and Mutare Ward 16
Councillor Sekai Catherine Mukodza; by the MDC Alliance.

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ZESN SITUATIONAL STATEMENT ON THE MAY 7 2022 BY-ELECTION OBSERVATIONS

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network has deployed 8 static observers in Chitungwiza Ward
7, Mutare Ward 14 & 16, Rusape Ward 5, Pfura Ward 40, Kariba Ward 3, 4 & 8 as well as observers at the Ward
Collation Centres in the local authority by-election. The by-election is being held in accordance with Section 121
A of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) following the death of the incumbent Pfura Ward 40 Councillor Doniah
Jeke and the recalls of Mutare Mayor Blessing Tandi of Ward 14; Chitungwiza Mayor Lovemore Maiko of Ward
7; Kariba Mayor George Masendu of Ward 4; Councillors Farai Magevha of Ward 3 and Pedzisai Munhuweyi of
Ward 8 and Mutare Ward 16 Councillor Sekai Catherine Mukodza; who were elected under the MDC Alliance
Party were recalled from their respective local authorities and are contesting in the by-election under the Citizens
Coalition for Change (CCC) Party.

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REPORT ON THE 26 MARCH BY-ElECTIONS

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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