Human Rights Archive Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) monitored the human rights situation during the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) primary elections conducted on 29 April 2018. The aim of these elections were to select candidates to represent the party in national elections in the categories of Council, National Assembly, Senate and Provincial Council.

This report presents ZESN’s observations of each sector of the electoral cycle: the pre-election, the polling, and the post-election periods.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) monitored and assessed the 2018 harmonized elections held on the 30th of July 2018. The primary objective was to ensure that the elections were conducted freely and fairly in accordance with national legal frameworks, and regional and international instruments that advance the observance and respect for human rights and freedoms of all citizens.

This update is based on observations made during the last 7 days of the blitz and is informed by reports from ZESN static and mobile observer teams.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) advises all stakeholders that it has deployed election monitors in all parts of the country, with effect from 23 July to 6 August 2018, to monitor the Harmonised Elections scheduled for 30 July 2018 as well as the post-election

The Commission deployed a total of 23 teams spread across the 10 Provinces of Zimbabwe. The monitors were able to collect information which forms part of this preliminary report.

On the 14th September the President published a proclamation (No 6 of 2018) establishing the Commission [The proclamation can be viewed on the Veritas website – link] and the seven Commissioners were sworn in on the 19th September.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has released a series of reports about politically partisan distribution of food and other State aid before and after polling in the 30th July election.

Detailed information about the Commission of Inquiry was given in our Commissions Watch bulletin dated 25th September 2018 [link]. Its terms of reference are set out in full in the Presidential proclamation appointing the Commission

Veritas notes that when giving evidence before the Commission of Inquiry into Post-Election Violence of 1st August, our Attorney-General, Prince Machaya, was absolutely clear on the correct legal position of who can deploy the army onto the streets.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC/Commission), in line with its monitoring mandate as provided for in Section 243(1)(c) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, deployed monitors throughout the country’s 10 Provinces. The monitoring activities which have been undertaken by the ZHRC project a holistic picture of the electoral environment

This report is based on the information received from the monitors deployed across the country and from complaints received.

The Commission issued its preliminary election monitoring report on the 2nd of August 2018 covering the period up to 31 July 2018. This statement is therefore a summary of findings on the election related human rights situation by the ZHRC in the period from 1 August to 6 August 2018.

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC/Commission) joins the nation and other peace loving Zimbabweans in condemning, in the strongest sense, the use of live ammunition and excessive force on unarmed protesting citizens by the army on 1 August 2018.

Complaints of alleged forceful collection of serial numbers from community members in Marondera Rural (Rapids Farm), in Bocha Marange and Mutasa Districts of Manicaland Province were lodged with the ZHRC.

The report highlights the findings of the ZHRC before, during and after the elections and the ZHRC’s own observations.

Report on the Bikita By-Election

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) monitored the human rights situation prior to the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) primary elections that had been initially scheduled for 17 May 2018.

Democratic free and fair elections are an integral component of international human rights law as recognised at the apex of the Human Rights system in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Universal Declaration).

The International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) organized the Zimbabwe International Election Observation Mission (ZIEOM) for the 2018 Zimbabwe presidential, parliamentary, and local government elections (referred to locally as “harmonized” elections).

STATEMENT BY THE HONOURABLE TETE ANTONIO, SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA AND HEAD OF THE SADC ELECTORAL OBSERVATION MISSION (SEOM) TO THE 2018 HARMONISED ELECTIONS IN THE REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE.

CSOS call for Comprehensive reforms to ensure Democratic Elections.

Lessons from Kenya on mass Biometric Voter Registration.

Success of the BVR process hinged on timeous finalization of requisite processes.

Human Rights Watch calls on SADC member states to urge the government of Zimbabwe to ensure that in the days remaining before the election, efforts are made to guarantee that all candidates are able to campaign freely and openly throughout Zimbabwe, that all candidates have access to the media, that journalists and observers are allowed to observe the election process in all areas of the country, and that voters are allowed to choose a candidate and vote in an environment free of intimidation.

Heal Zimbabwe through its resident human rights monitors in all the country’s 10 provinces monitored the environment during the mobile voter registration exercise. This was done with the objective of monitoring the environment and report on any cases of human rights violations as well as making referrals where necessary for redress.

ZCBC Pastoral Letter on July Elections , Shona Version

The Mwenezi East by-election was necessitated by the death of Honourable Joshua Moyo hence was implemented according to Section 159 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and declared so through Section 39 of the Electoral Act, which mandates the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to conduct a by-election within 90 days after the vacancy is declared. 8 April 2017 was set by the President as the date of the by-election.