Human Rights Archive Zimbabwe

The findings in this report are primarily informed by the Long Term Observers (LTOs) that ZESN deployed to the National Assembly Constituencies throughout the country. ZESN deployed 210 LTOs to track political developments in all the National Assembly Constituencies in Zimbabwe. During the Inspection of the provisional voters’ roll, ZESN deployed LTOs who visited 693 Inspection Centres (ICs) across the country during the inspection and making 909 visits in total during the process.

AN ACT to provide for the terms of office, conditions of service, qualifications and vacation of office of members of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, the procedure at meetings of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the appointment of the Chief Elections Officer; to make provision for the registration of voters and for the lodging of objections thereto; to provide for the preparation, compilation and maintenance of voters rolls; to prescribe the residence qualifications of voters and the procedure for the nomination and election of candidates to and the filling in of vacancies in Parliament; to provide for elections to the office of the President; to provide for local authority elections; to provide for offences and penalties, and for the prevention of electoral malpractices in connection with elections; to establish the Electoral Court and provide for its functions; to make provision for the hearing and determination of election petitions; and to provide for matters connected with or incidental to the foregoing.

The principal objective of the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections is to promote the holding and observation of democratic elections based on the shared values and principles of democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights enshrined in the SADC Treaty signed at Windhoek, Namibia in 1992.

Next steps after the Second All stakeholder Conference.

Draft Constitution: Unpacking the proposed Electoral hybrid Electoral system

Analysisng the Electoral amendment Bill:what are the Key changes?

The Role of Parliament in Electoral Reform. Parliament plays an important role in the enactment of the electoral laws, which seek to capture the peoples’ hopes, wishes and aspirations.

ACT To provide for the terms of office, conditions of service, qualifications and vacation of office of members of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, the procedure at meetings of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the appointment of the Chief Elections Officer; and to provide for matters connected with or incidental to the foregoing.

ACT

To provide for the Registrar General of Voters and constituency registrars; to make provision for the registration of voters and for the lodging of objections thereto; to provide for the preparation, compilation and maintenance of voters rolls; to provide for the functions of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission with respect to observers; to prescribe the residence qualifications of voters and the procedure for the nomination and election of candidates to and the filling in of vacancies in Parliament; to provide for elections to the office of the President; to provide for local authority elections; to provide for offences and penalties, and for the prevention of electoral malpractices in connection with elections; to establish the Electoral Court and provide for its functions; to make provision for the hearing and determination of election petitions; and to provide for matters connected with or incidental to the foregoing.

ACT To provide for the terms of office, conditions of service, qualifications and vacation of office of members of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, the procedure at meetings of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the appointment of the Chief Elections Officer; and to provide for matters connected with or incidental to the foregoing.

The report highlights that the effectiveness of any electoral reforms depends on how the electoral laws are applied and enforced in practice. Legislation alone cannot prevent malpractices. The best remedies against them are an impartial, efficient and active Electoral Commission; rigorous observation and monitoring of all stages of the electoral process; and impartial and professional enforcement of the laws by law enforcement agencies.

The Charter seeks to entrench in the Continent a political culture of change of power based on the holding of regular, free, fair and transparent elections conducted by competent, independent and impartial national electoral bodies.

This Report is an attempt to contribute to the debate not so much to stir the debate further but to clarify issues by more objectively but critically looking at the merits and demerits of the proposal.

The principles are divided between the responsibilities of member states and the rights and obligations under which democratic elections must be held.