Chronicles of the Zimbabwe Election Support Network Since 2000 In Pursuit of Democractic Elections in Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) was conceptualised in the late 1990s as a Network of Civic Organisations, consisting of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) representing youth, women, students, churches, labour, Persons with Disabilities (PwDs), and other sectors. The rationale was to coordinate civil society election-related activities, standardise methodologies, and ensure wider geographical coverage. The broad aim of the Network is to promote democracy and good governance in general and free and fair elections in particular. The vision of the ZESN is “a Zimbabwe where a democratic electoral environment and processes are upheld” and its mission is “to promote democratic elections in Zimbabwe” (ZESN, 2000). This chapter introduces the book that tracks the ZESN work since inception. The story is told directly from the perspectives of the members and the Network stakeholders.

The chapter shares the book outline, the methodology used to develop the book as well as a reflection on elections and democracy broadly. At inception, the ZESN’s work was organised into five subcommittees: Election Monitoring; Violence Monitoring; Civic and Voter Education (CVE); Research and Advocacy; and Media. Over time, these areas of focus have remained largely unchanged, with ZESN’s work currently organised into the following departmental programmes: Electoral Education and Capacity Building (EECB); Election Monitoring and Observation (M and
O); Advocacy for Electoral Reform; and Media and Information. The ZESN also has a Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability, and Learning Unit (MEAL). To effectively achieve the Network’s objectives, member organisations are grouped into task forces that implement activities all over the country, with the secretariat
facilitating the work.

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Voter Apathy Research Report

 

 

Voter apathy, or the lack of interest and participation in elections, has been a growing concern in
Zimbabwe over the past two decades. While Zimbabwe has held regular elections since
independence in 1980, public trust in the electoral process has weakened due to political tensions,
disputed election results, limited civic education, and a lack of meaningful youth engagement.

Over time, many citizens, particularly young people, have become disengaged from voting. For
instance, Project Vote 263 commenting on the 2018 harmonised elections observed that
“Zimbabwe had approximately 4.1 million youth between the ages of 18 to 35 who were eligible to
register to vote but only 2 501 000 (61%) were registered to vote and only 38% were able to cast
their votes on election day; approximately 1 520 000. This means 2 580 000 million young people
did not vote in 2018 and 1 599 000 were not registered to vote”. There is a perception amongst the
youth that their votes do not lead to real change, hence the disengagement with elections by
young people.

 

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ZESN 2025 International Human Rights Day Statement

10-December-2025 – As the world commemorates International Human Rights Day, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) calls on all stakeholders to uphold and protect the fundamental rights and freedoms that are essential to everyday life. Human rights apply to all people regardless of nationality, gender, ability, or social status as affirmed in Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.”
International Human Rights Day marks the adoption of the UDHR on 10 December 1948, a milestone that cemented the global commitment to dignity, justice, equality, and freedom for all. These rights encompass the right to life, health, education, personal security, participation, and freedom of expression, among others.

This year’s theme, “Human Rights: Our Everyday Essentials,” underscores the reality that human rights are not abstract ideals but daily necessities that shape people’s wellbeing, safety, and ability to participate fully in society. The theme resonates strongly with ZESN’s work in promoting inclusive, transparent, and democratic electoral processes where every Zimbabwean woman and man, youth and persons with disabilities can engage meaningfully as voters, observers, candidates, polling staff, and civic actors.

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ESN-SA & ZESN MALAWI 2025 ELECTION REPORT

ESN-SA & ZESN MALAWI 2025 ELECTION REPORT

The Electoral Support Network of Southern Africa and the Zimbabwe Election Support Network jointly deployed an Observation and Learning Mission to the Malawi General (Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government) Elections held on 16 September 2025. The Mission comprised 12 observers who were deployed to four districts in the Central Region, namely Lilongwe Central, Salima, Dowa and
Dedza. The Mission undertook a comprehensive review of the political, administrative, and legal frameworks governing elections in Malawi. In addition, the Mission held consultations with key electoral stakeholders, such as citizen observer groups, women’s organisations and other international observer missions. These engagements were instrumental in enhancing the Mission’s understanding of the
broader electoral environment.

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Electoral Reform Through the Gender Lens Activity Highlights

Electoral Reform Through the Gender Lens Activity Highlights

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), in collaboration with the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) and UN Women, convened a high-level dialogue titled ‘Electoral Reform Through a Gender Lens: Insights from Malawi, South Africa, and Namibia’, at Monomotapa Hotel in Harare on 27 October 2025. The workshop brought together over 40 participants drawn from women’s organizations, civil society, academia, media, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, the Zimbabwe Gender Commission and other electoral experts with the aim of examining regional experiences and best practices to inform gender-inclusive electoral reforms in Zimbabwe.

ZESN Executive Director Mrs. Rindai Chipfunde-Vava opened the workshop by outlining the objectives, which included identifying best practices in gender-inclusive electoral strategies and policies from other jurisdictions towards enhancing women’s participation in the electoral process locally.

UN Women Representative Mrs. Fadzai Traquino, made introductory remarks, framing the discussions within the regional electoral reform landscape. In her presentation, Mrs. Traquino provided a comparative overview of recent electoral legal reforms in Malawi, South Africa, Namibia, and Mozambique, highlighting both progress and persisting gender gaps. She noted that while many of the 2023–2025 legal amendments in these countries aimed at strengthening procedural fairness, transparency, and administrative efficiency, most lacked explicit gender provisions.

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ESN-SA and ZESN ARRIVAL STATEMENT IN MALAWI 2025

ESN-SA and ZESN ARRIVAL STATEMENT IN MALAWI 2025

On behalf of the Electoral Support Network for Southern Africa (ESN-SA) and the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), we extend our sincere gratitude to the people of Malawi and the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) for the warm welcome to our team. As ESN-SA and ZESN, we are honoured to be part of this important democratic process and are truly experiencing the warmth and spirit that Malawi is known for.

On 14 September 2025, the Learning Mission team arrived in Malawi following an invitation from the Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) to observe the 16 September General Elections. The Learning Mission comprises 13 accredited short-term observers from domestic observer groups in Angola, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The team will be primarily deployed in Lilongwe and its surrounding areas, remaining in the country until September 19, 2025.

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Preliminary Statement of the ESN-SA and ZESN Joint Learning Election Observation Mission Malawi 2025 General Elections

Preliminary Statement of the ESN-SA and ZESN Joint Learning Election Observation Mission Malawi 2025 General Elections

INTRODUCTION

In line with the Election Support Network of Southern Africa’s mission to contribute to higher levels of electoral integrity in Africa and the Zimbabwe Election Support Network’s (ZESN) mission to promote democratic, free, and fair electoral processes through objectively and impartially observing elections, the two organisations deployed a Joint Learning Mission to observe the Malawi General Elections held on 16 September 2025. The Learning Mission comprised 13 accredited short-term observers from citizen observer groups in Angola, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The elections encompassed the Presidential race, the election of 229 members of the National Assembly, and the election of 509 Local Government Councillors.

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ZESN COMMEMORATES INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DEMOCRACY

15 September 2025 – The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) joins the global community in marking International Democracy Day 2025. This year, the world is focused on a critical new frontier for democratic governance: “Ensuring effective governance of AI at all levels.” This theme goes beyond acknowledging AI’s potential and calls all stakeholders to a new level of action and accountability.

As the world commemorates the International Day of Democracy, ZESN acknowledges the 21st anniversary of the United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) and its commitment to strengthening democratic values around the world. ZESN recognises that the future of democracy hinges on the ability to govern technology and not be governed by it. The challenge is clear: AI has the power to either amplify the voices of the people, as highlighted in the UN’s “From Voice to Action” theme, or it can be a tool for disinformation, manipulation, and the suppression of democratic participation.

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