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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