AS Zimbabwe heads towards the 2023 elections, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Zimbabwe has launched an alert button to prioritise the safety of journalists as temperatures heat up. While there were no reported cases of physical attacks against media practitioners ahead of the March 26 by-elections, there are fears over their safety to ensure access to election related information. “We realize that media practitioners always collect, or always have in custody critical information that is part of their news, part of dissemination but also information that they get from their sources hence the issue of confidentiality is very important about the protection of their devices and the protection of their documents,” MISA- Zimbabwe Legal ICT Policy Ocer Nompilo Simanje said.

During elections, journalists frequently cover rallies, campaign events, and protests which can increase their risk of being attacked, harassed, and detained. Journalists may be required to report in areas or communities that are hostile to the media or outsiders. This can happen if a community perceives that the media does not fairly represent them or portrays them in a negative light.

Download full Report here

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), a group of 37 non-governmental
organisations working to promote democratic elections in Zimbabwe held its 22nd Annual General Meeting where
it re-elected Mr Andrew Makoni as the Chairperson and Mr Dumisani Nkomo as the Vice-Chairperson. Both Mr
Makoni and Mr Nkomo’s nominations were uncontested and therefore duly elected.

Other organisations elected to be represented in the ZESN Board are; Albino Trust Zimbabwe (ATZ),
Chitungwiza and Manyame Rural Residents Association (CAMERRA), Evangelical Fellowship of
Zimbabwe (EFZ), Christian Alliance of Zimbabwe (CAZ), Media Monitors (MM), Catholic Commission for
Justice and Peace (CCJP), Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA), and the Youth
Empowerment and Transformation Trust (YETT).

Download full Report here

As a build-up towards gathering credible information on the second phase of the voter registration
process and as part of the 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 second phase of the BVR blitz on
an independent and nonpartisan basis for all Zimbabweans. The joint observation effort served to
provide citizens and key stakeholders with accurate, independent, timely, and credible information
on the BVR blitz process. ERC and ZESN’s further objective was to ensure the 2022 BVR blitz
exercise was transparent, inclusive, and accountable as well as in conformity with regional and
international best practices.

Before the commencement of the phase 2 Registration Blitz, the Registrar General, began a
National Identity Document (ID card) issuance blitz on 01 April 2022. This was 10 days before
the second BVR blitz which was to begin on 11 April 2022. The national ID blitz will run until
September 2022 in all provinces across the country. A national ID is an important document for
one to register as a voter during the voter registration process. ERC, ZESN and other stakeholders
contend that without the issuance of IDs a large group of eligible Zimbabweans will be
disenfranchised

Download Full Report Here

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.

Download full report here

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.

Download Full Report here

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.

Download Full Report here

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.

Download the full report here

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.

Download the full report here

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.

Download the full report here

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.

Download the full report here