ZIMBABWE ELECTION SUPPORT NETWORK ANNUAL REPORT 2010 Chairperson’s Annual Statement Tinoziva Bere This year ZESN celebrates 10 years of not just existence but of service to this country in the quest for free and fair elections. I start by acknowledging the founders, the long serving team members, all predecessor board members, the long serving members and our partners and stakeholders. Without your varied support ZESN would not be who it is today. ZESN in now entrenched in electoral democracy history and practice of this country, and is known and respected in the region, the continent and the world. Congratulations all and thank you very much. May you all continue to take pride in ZESN and its values for yet another decade. Operating environment The year 2010 was generally peaceful largely due to some level of political tolerance brought about by the GNU. This environment enabled ZESN and other CSOs to undertake programs in places which had hitherto been labeled “no go” especially in the rural areas. Unfortunately the promise of the GNU has remained a promise with very limited progress on implementation of the agreed terms. Instead of faithfully implementing the agreed reforms, the parties to the GNU resumed intense political rivalry and bitter political contestation leading to non-implementation of even agreed issues and polarization and hatred that rendered the environment unfit for elections which became the theme song of most political debates. ZESN led this debate and consistently researched the environment and published its findings that the environment was not conducive for free and fair elections. ZESN also intensified its lobby for legislative reforms to the law governing 3 the conduct of elections. The year ended with engagement with authorities over the state of the Voters' Roll and minimum conditions for holding of free and fair elections. ZESN has consistently advised and cautioned against rushing into elections without addressing the following preconditions:• Peace guarantee: by addressing issues of past violence, hate language and hate media, the apparatus of violence, the risk of future violence and the failed national peace building effort. • Freedom: The need for freedom of political choice/activity, movement, speech, media and repeal of all repressive laws. There are so many repressive laws and some known institutions that hinder free political and electoral participation. • Constitutional, Electoral & Legislative Reforms: the need to make progress on agreed and seriously delayed constitutional, electoral and legislative reforms to create a better electoral environment. Under these would be ZEC Mandate and Resources. ZESN has urged that the newly constituted ZEC be given a full Constitutional mandate to control and run all electoral instruments and processes. ZESN urged that the Voters’ Roll be given to ZEC and that the Commission be given adequate resources to undertake internal reform and capacity building in order to be ready to effectively and independently run all electoral processes. PROMOTING DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS IN ZIMBABWE