2. The question of democratic, regular, free and fair elections
The question of democratic elections in Zimbabwe is a pertinent one. Elections in Zimbabwe have been
characterized by political violence, intimidation and vote rigging. The following have been the key
challenges regarding elections in Zimbabwe;
The ruling party enjoys exclusive access to state media while the opposition does not have such
access.
Ruling party supporters intimidate and execute violence upon members of the opposition while
the police and the attorney general fail to arrest and prosecute such perpetrators of violence
and intimidation.
The process of voter registration is generally complicated.
Voter registration is managed by the Registrar General’s Office, of which the registrar general is
a presidential appointee, thereby casting doubt on his independence and impartiality.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is responsible for accrediting election observers and there has
been a tendency of inviting observers only from those countries and organisations that are
sympathetic to the ruling party. The observers accredited are usually biased and therefore lack
objectivity.
There are delays in the resolution of electoral disputes.
The leadership of the military utter partisan political statements, warning the electorate against
voting for any party other than ZANU PF.
Military personnel are often deployed to mobilise votes for ZANU PF.
Members of the opposition are often incarcerated or threatened with trumped up criminal
charges prior or just after the elections.
The table below examines whether and how the COPAC draft constitution seeks to address the above
mentioned challenges
Electoral challenge
The ruling party enjoys exclusive
access to state media while the
opposition does not have such
access
How the COPAC draft seeks to Remarks
address the challenge
Section 4.16 (4) of the
draft’s bill of rights requires
state media to be impartial
and afford fair opportunity
for the presentation of
The COPAC draft provides
mechanisms
which
the
opposition parties can rely on to
legally claim the right to
disseminate information through
10