NOW THEREFORE the petitioners beseech the Parliament of Zimbabwe to implore the
Executive to uphold the Constitution by ensuring that Zimbabwe’s Electoral Law is reviewed
in compliance not only with their undertakings, but also with the provisions of the
Constitution and that a legal framework is put in place that guarantees an undisputed
electoral process.
Background
Over the years there have been piecemeal amendments to the Electoral Law, culminating in
the General Laws Amendment Bill [H.B. 3, 2015] that is currently before Parliament. The
General Laws Amendment Bill was, however, preceded on the 10 th of April 2014 by an
undertaking made before Parliament by the Hon. Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa,
that the Executive would table a Bill containing thoroughgoing and comprehensive
amendments to the Electoral Law in the following words:
. . . this [Electoral Amendment] Bill [H.B. 7, 2013] does not purport to
complete the constitutional alignment process. This Bill is only
preliminary to another Bill which I will soon bring before Parliament to
complete all the remaining matters in the Electoral Act that require
alignment with the Constitution . . . I, therefore, reiterate that this Bill
marks the beginning of the constitutional alignment process with
respect to the Electoral Act. I undertake to Hon. embers, to complete the
consultations on the outstanding alignment issues before the end of the
year. (Hansard 10 April 2014, Volume 40 No. 53).
As more fully appears in the annexure to this petition, your petitioners appeal to
this August House to take into account the following issues for the democratic
overhaul of Zimbabwe’s Electoral Law:
1. Enhancing the Independence of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
2. Reviewing all legislation that negatively impacts on the Political Environment, hence
on the electoral process and its outcomes.
3. Reviewing provisions relating to Voters Registration and the Voters' Roll to ensure
they enhance the credibility of Zimbabwean elections.
4. Enhancing Voter Education by creating more space for stakeholders other than ZEC.
5. Extending the franchise and the Right to Vote to all citizens of Zimbabwe, wherever
they may be.
6. Reconstituting the Electoral Court in compliance with the Constitution.
7. Ensuring that the invitation of Election observers is an exclusive function of the body
entrusted with the conduct of the polls.
8. Enhancing the role of ZEC in electoral boundary Delimitation.
Fuller details are annexed hereto (Annexure A).
Petitioners’ Plea and Prayer:
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