Human Rights Archive Zimbabwe

This issue seeks to continue with the debate and discussions on some interpretations, implications, and prospects towards the 2008 elections in particular on the Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 18. The issue looks at various aspects like the voter registration, which make up the fundamental aspects of a free and fair election.

New Amendments to the electoral Act falls short of expectations.

This report, based on investigations in Zimbabwe, describes the scale of the abuses and identifies those responsible—officials from ZANU-PF, often working through proxy forces of so-called war veterans and youth militia, backed by members of the armed forces and police. Local institutions have identified at least 2,000 beatings and cases of torture.

The 2005 Parliamentary elections represented an important improvement on the 2000 and 2002 elections in that the elections were performed in a peaceful environment without state-controlled violence. Despite this notable improvement from previous elections, the Parliamentary elections in Zimbabwe failed to meet some key internationally recognised election standards.

On March 29, 2008, Zimbabwe held presidential, parliamentary and local elections. Months later, the country’s political future remains uncertain. For the first time since independence, the ruling party has lost its majority in the National Assembly. After a month of rising tensions, the results of the presidential race were belatedly announced on May 2.

The harmonised elections set for 31 July 2013 remain perhaps the most significant yet contested polls in the history of Zimbabwe. Not only has the timing of the actual poll been uncertain, but the polls are also approaching at a time when the curtains are coming down on the embattled Inclusive Government (IG) that was akin to a love-hate relationship amongst the three main political parties represented in Parliament.

Delimitation is the process of redistricting of constituencies for the purposes of elections. It divides the country into constituencies and wards for the purposes of elections of persons to constituency seats in the National Assembly and of councillors to local authorities. In Zimbabwe, the process is carried out in terms of sections 160 and 161 of the latest Constitution (2013).

This is a review by the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (“ZESN”) of the proposed amendments to Zimbabwe’s legislation on the management and conduct of elections in the country. The Electoral Amendment Bill, 2011 (hereafter, “the Bill”) seeks to amend the Electoral Act (Chapter 2: 13) (hereafter, “the Act”).

On March 29, 2008, Zimbabweans will participate in presidential, parliamentary, senatorial, and local government elections synchronized for the first time, following changes to Zimbabwe’s constitution in September 2007. As the elections near, all indications are that once again the people of Zimbabwe will not be able to freely exercise their civil and political rights and vote for the candidates of their choice.

On 28 May 2018, another Electoral Amendment Act was passed and the 2018 Election date was announced thereafter. Consequently, as a result of the announcement of the Election day as 30 July 2018, any amendments to the Electoral Act that happen after the proclamation do not apply to the 2018 elections, but other future elections.

This is the second report on an audit of the June 2013 Voters’ Roll. It expands on the previous report, provides a more detailed analysis of the Roll, and corrects a number of minor errors.

Electoral system reform and implications for Gender equality

State organized violence increased following the rejection of the Government sponsored constitution in the referendum at the beginning 2000. The violence was initially sporadic and confined to one or two areas at a time but as the 2000 parliamentary elections approached, it became more intense and widespread. The state trained and deployed more people in an effort to control perceived supporters of the newly formed opposition.

Heal Zimbabwe monitored the electoral environment and the 21 January 2017 by election in Bikita West. To increase efficiency and effectiveness in doing so, a collaboration with the Elections Resource Centre (ERC) and the Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) was forged in the run up to the Election Day.

Report on the Bikita By-Election

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) welcomes the commencement of the Biometric Voter Registration exercise at the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) district offices. The rolling out of the registration exercise at district level facilitates the continuous registration of voters as stipulated by the law.

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.

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) continues to observe the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) exercise at the 63 District centers established by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) commenced the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) for the Wards which fall under Phase 1 yesterday. ZEC intends to roll out the process in four phases until 19 December 2017.

ZESN has deployed observers under the first phase of the Biometric Voter Registration blitz and this update is based on reports received from all the 10 provinces where registration is currently taking place.

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) continues to observe Phase One of the Biometric Voter Registration exercise in all 10 provinces of the country. There are six days left before the close of voter registration under Phase One.

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) continues to observe the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) exercise. This update is based on observations by ZESN observers deployed to cover all the wards under Phase One.

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) is observing Phase 2 of the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) exercise which commenced on 29 October 2017.

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) continues to observe Phase 2 of the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) exercise in all the country’s 10 provinces. The following update is based on observations made over the past 7 days.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) concluded phase 2 of the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) blitz on Monday 13 November 2017. Phase 3 of the blitz commenced yesterday, 16 November 2017 and was marred by a few challenges which include; destruction of registration tents by heavy rains and failure to open some of the registration centres owing to late arrival of either ZEC registration officers or equipment.

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) continues to observe Phase 3 of the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) exercise which commenced on, 16 November 2017 and will end on 1 December 2017.

ZESN continues to observe the (Biometric Voter Registration) BVR blitz which entered the fourth and last phase on 4 December until 19 December 2017. At the conclusion of Phase 3, ZEC indicated that a total of 3,532,577 had been registered cumulatively from Phase 1.

ZESN received reports of a significant number of voter registration centres that ran out of the print roll used for issuing voter registration slips to successful registrants.

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 Biometric Voter registration (BVR) Blitz which commenced on 10 October 2017 came to an end on 19 December 2017. Following pleas by electoral stakeholders, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) announced that a mop up of the voter registration would be done over a 30 day period from 10 January to 8 February 2018.

The following are highlights of reports from ZESN’s mobile and static observers that have been deployed to some of the registration centers countrywide.

This update is based on reports from ZESN’s mobile and static observers who have been deployed at selected registration centres countrywide.

This update is based on reports from ZESN’s mobile and static observers who have been deployed at selected mop up, district and provincial registration centres countrywide.

This update is based on reports from ZESN’s mobile and static observers who were deployed at selected mop up, district and provincial registration centres countrywide. ZESN deployed a total of 263 static observers for the mop up exercise.

CATHOLIC COMMISSION FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE IN ZIMBABWE ELECTION OBSERVATION REPORT FOR 2018 ZIMBABWE HARMONIZED ELECTIONS

Malaba CJ's decision stated that,This is the unanimous judgment of the Court. It must be noted that it, however, does not contain the full reasons thereof. These will be issued in due course.

This Application challenged the results of the presidential election announced irregularly by the 23rd and 24th respondents on the 3rd day of August 2018. It also challenged the declaration by the 23rd respondent that 1st respondent ids the duly elected presidential candidate for the presidential for the presidential election that took place on the 30th day of July 2018.

Brief by the Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to Local and Foreign observers for the 2018 Harmonised Elections at Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) 13 July 2018.

Violence and other forms of violations are expected to be less in Chimanimani West comparatively to the 2008 and 2013 cases. However, it is worrying that unorthodox covert means can be used by the ruling party in a bid to win the elections while in the process violating the people’s right to vote peacefully.

President Mugabe set 15 July 2017 as the date for the Chiwundura National Assembly by election in accordance with Section 39 (2) of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13). The seat fell vacant following the death of the National Assembly representative for the Constituency; Mr Kizito Chivamba, who died on 19 April 2017 following a short illness.

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 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.

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

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.

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) 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

These revised Commonwealth Guidelines for the Conduct of Election Observation adopt best practice, as also reflected in the Declaration of Principles on International Election Observation, and will ensure the on-going integrity, value and impact of Commonwealth observer missions as they continue to support the strengthening of electoral democracy and the political rights of Commonwealth citizens.

This report covers all the reports received by the NCA for February 2005, coming from 8 Provinces, and 56 Constituencies. It summarises the position that pertained during the last 2 weeks of February. Unfortunately, no data had been submitted from either Manicaland or Mashonaland West by the time of writing, but it is submitted that the data nonetheless do give a good overview of the national picture in February 2005.

ZESN is calling for transparency in the various stages of the deployment of BVR system in Zimbabwe. The continued silence regarding the steps being taken in the adoption and implementation of the BVR system apart from print media pronouncements is particularly worrying.

Non-partisan citizen election observers and monitors can be considered as specialized human rights defenders focused on civil and political rights, which are central to achieving genuine elections.

The purpose of this policy brief is to discuss the timing of the process of delimitation of electoral boundaries. It articulates why it is more desirable to have the delimitation exercise before the 2018 elections.

This report highlights that The process of delimitation of electoral boundaries remains critical to any electoral outcome in Zimbabwe. In the past, this process has not been conducted in a timely and transparent manner.

This report is a follow-up to the preliminary report produced by the Women’s Trust (TWT) and the Research and Advocacy Unit (RAU) in early 2014 on the effectiveness of the SiMuka! Zimbabwe, Woman, Get Counted! Register to Vote! in getting women to register to vote and to vote. This report goes further to note that whilst it is encouraging to see women turn out to vote in elections, and even more gratifying to see that the turn out can be strongly increased by woman to woman advocacy, there is always need to conduct a reality check on the actual process of the election and its outcome.

In Zimbabwe it has been noted that threats and intimidation have been and are still to bring about certain electoral outcomes.

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.

Pastoral letter of the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops on Preparing for the Zimbabwe 2018 National Elections.