By Byron Mutingwende Member of the National Assembly for Norton, Temba Mliswa has come out clean and quashed allegations of having infected a young girl with HIV and a sexually transmitted infection after he went public in testing for his status. In a Tweet by a figure who identified self as Mai Tindo,…
By Dumisani O. Nkomo The elections have come and gone so has the Constitutional Court process of dealing with the disputed election outcome. What is imperative now is how the nation moves forward. The key players in this unfolding drama need to clearly map a way forward and avoid being stuck in a moment of…
The European Union (EU) Delegation, the EU Member States Embassies and the Embassy of Switzerland have said they are willing to work with the new government following today’s Constitutional Court (ConCourt decision) that ruled that Emmerson Mnangagwa is the duly elected President of Zimbabwe. Today, Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court dismissed the petition filed by opposition leader…
By Farai Chirimumimba Judges at Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court on Wednesday began hearing an opposition petition challenging the result of the July 30 presidential election. The nine judges have until tomorrow to rule in the case in which opposition leader Nelson Chamisa alleges vote rigging and fraud handed victory to incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa. The court…
The Citizens Manifesto, representing the citizens of Zimbabwe, who in the past 20 months, have been coming together as residents associations, labour, faith based organisations, women and gender rights groups, disabled persons rights activists, youths and students, environmentalists, social and economic justice activists, informal traders, civil society and other concerned and progressive individuals assembled together…
By ERC Information department The 2018 Zimbabwe Harmonised Election results have been plagued with gross inconsistencies and irregularities to the extent that they have shaken the core foundations pillaring the credibility of the electoral process. Credibility and verifiability are constitutionally at the core of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s (ZEC) function, and the Commission was obligated…
President Mnangagwa should put aside the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) led rigging scheme and act as a Statesman by accepting electoral defeat in order to allow the country to move forward, Nelson Chamisa has said. “This idea that African strongman never want to leave power after an election must stop. President Mnangagwa will join a…
By Byron Mutingwende Norton came to a standstill as musicians of the moment Jah Prayzah, Jah Signal and Mbeu entertained tens of thousands of people who invaded Koshen Grounds to celebrate the victory of Temba Mliswa as the Member of the National Assembly for the area. “The results of the National Assembly election for Norton…
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has reported that the police on Thursday 16 August 2018 charged Costa Machingauta, an opposition MDC Alliance party legislator for Budiriro constituency with public violence for allegedly participating in protests staged in Harare early this month over delays in announcing the results of harmonised elections to 31. Machingauta,…
Civil society organisations (CSOs) under the banner of the United Citizens Alliance (UCA), Zimbabwe Divine Destiny (ZDD), Prayer Network of Zimbabwe (PNZ) and War Veterans for Peace Initiative (WVPI) have insisted that judicial independence should be upheld in the pending Constitutional Court case in which MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa is challenging the results of…
By Veritas Remedies Open to Dissatisfied National Assembly and Local Council Candidates Challenges to National Assembly and local authority election results are matters for the Electoral Court alone. If an unsuccessful candidate believes that he or she should have won, or that the election in the constituency/ward was so flawed that it should be nullified and…
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has reported that authorities have arrested two MDC Alliance party members taking the number of people arrested for allegedly participating in protests staged in Harare early this month over delays in announcing the results of harmonised elections to 31. Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers arrested Last Vambe on…
By Byron Mutingwende Honourable Kenneth Musanhi, the Member of the National Assembly for Bindura North Constituency has paid tribute to the President and the electorate for his emphatic victory in the just ended 2018 harmonised elections. “I am humbled by the massive support that our revolutionary party ZANU (PF) got in the just…
Transparent and credible electoral processes should become the bedrock of the political system if real peace, legitimacy and sustainable development are to be realised, the National Association of Youth Organisations (NAYO) has said. Speaking at a press conference in Harare under the banner of the Leave No Youth Behind (LNYB), a local coalition of more…
By Veritas In the early hours of the morning on 3rd August, the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission [ZEC] declared Mr Mnangagwa to have been duly elected as President of Zimbabwe. The MDC Alliance has said the result will be challenged in court. This Election Watch outlines the time limits for bringing a challenge,…
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has secured the freedom of members of the opposition arrested over the political violence that broke out in Harare immediately after the 2018 harmonised elections. Courtesy of representation by lawyers from ZLHR, Harare Magistrate Nyasha Vhitorini on Tuesday 07 August 2018 set free 27 opposition party supporters who…
By Dumisani Ncube The recent developments in Zimbabwean Elections have once again demonstrated the important role that the peasantry plays in determining the country’s future. Zimbabwe has 63 Districts of which 58 are rural districts thus giving a percentage figure of 92 % .Given the statistics it is evident that the rural vote has…
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has reported that authorities have intensified their crackdown on opposition political party supporters after arresting more people following protests staged in Harare after the announcement of results for the harmonised elections held last month. Over the weekend, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers arrested three people namely Simbarashe Zvobgo,…
By Dumisani O. Nkomo The results of the 2018 Harmonised elections provide an insight into voting trends and patterns which are useful for understanding Voter Psychology and the factors that influence how and who the electorate vote for. There are useful lessons for the contestants as well as other players such as the electoral management…
By Amnesty International The Zimbabwean authorities must immediately stop arresting and harassing protesters and bystanders following post-election violence that has killed at least six people, Amnesty International said today. More than 60 people have been arbitrarily arrested in the past seven days in a government crackdown on supporters of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change…
A transition briefing for Zimbabwe’s newly elected local councillors By Elmond Bandauko During the 2018 election period, there was limited attention on what the elections would mean for policy and governance at the local level. Local government remains a very significant level of government as it is deliberately created to bring government to the grass-roots…
As reported by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), 21 people who were arrested and charged with committing public violence who spent the weekend in prison will be back in court today (Monday 06 August 2018). The 21 people were arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers on Thursday 02 August 2018 and charged with…
The Zimbabwe council of Churches (ZCC) in solidarity with the Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations has called for the people of Zimbabwe to unite and promote peace in the aftermath of the 2018 harmonised elections. Addressing the press yesterday (Friday 3 August 2018), Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata, the General Secretary of Zimbabwe Council of Churches …
By Wisdom Mumera Special Advisor to the President, Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa is facing a solitary walk down the path into the political sunset after a debilitating loss in the Norton legislative election held on Monday. The war veteran suffered a humiliating loss to incumbent and independent legislator Temba Mliswa coming third behind MDC Alliance candidate…
Following the the ongoing announcement of House of Assembly results, the Election Resource Centre (ERC) has urged the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to uphold transparency, accountability and verifiability. “Full compliance with these principles and standards will go a long way in managing some of the tensions that are already threatening the peace that has broadly…
Those living in poverty and suffering inequalities and injustices should be at the centre of policies and development, the Action Aid Zimbabwe (AAZ)’s Social Justice Manifesto reveals. “The Social Justice Manifesto we are launching today (Sunday 29 July 2018) is a product of ActionAid Zimbabwe’s two (2) decades of work with people living in poverty…
By Byron Mutingwende Monday the 30th of July 2018 will witness the re-election of the ever hardworking Member of the National Assembly for Kuwadzana Constituency Honourable Betty Nhambu-Kaseke. Honourable Nhambu-Kaseke is not only a motherly figure but a philanthropist, devoted Christian and a multiple award winning female MP in Harare Province out of…
By Byron Mutingwende The people of Norton have said their vote is on Temba Peter “Bhuru” Mliswa because he has brought development on their doorsteps. Speaking at his mega rally at Kosheni Ground in Katanga that has seen thousands of residents of Norton defying calls by the two main political parties of ZANU…
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) has noted with concern the dismissal of an application seeking to compel the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to print braille ballot papers for visually impaired voters by the High Court of Zimbabwe. “The Constitution of Zimbabwe upholds the rights of persons with disabilities including in electoral processes. Section 155 of the Constitution…
Regional solidarity platform, the Zimbabwe Solidarity Forum (ZSF) which is based in South Africa, has warned the relatively peaceful environment ahead of the 2018 harmonised elections in the country could be a “shallow cover” for democratic deficits. The ZSF is made of South African trade unions, church groups and civil society organisations, eminent academics and…
Dumisani O Nkomo Zimbabwe is for the first time experiencing an interesting phenomenon of an incredible number of candidates especially for the Presidential and House of Assembly elections. It is critical for the electorate to make informed decisions about the kind of leaders that they elect. It has been quite a comic spectacle to witness…
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) 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 period. In terms of section 243 (c) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, one of the…
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) has welcomed the decision by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to review the positioning of voting booths ahead of the 30 July 2018 harmonised elections by reverting back to the set up in previous elections. The proposed positioning of the voting booths which would have seen voters casting their ballots in…
The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) has warned and deplored the escalated hate speech and inflammatory language against women ahead of the July 30 election. The ZGC made the call during a dialogue meeting with editors and expressed concern over the the concerted verbal attacks by political and other players on women as voters, candidates…
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) has completed its audit of the 2018 Voters’ Roll as provided by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) on the 18th of June 2018. I said auditing of the 2018 Voters Roll is particularly important given the concerns raised about the 2013 Preliminary Voters Roll. ZESN’s analysis of the 2013…
The Prime Minister of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Mr Tufan Erhürman said that Turkish Cypriot people wish to reach a fair and permanent solution and have been struggling for years to be included in the international community. Erhürman said that lifting of isolations will make the Turkish Cypriots more powerful and contribute…
Justice Joseph Mafusire handed down his written judgment for the original #SafeSchools case, the Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) v ZANU PF & Minister of Education HC 263/18. It is a bold judgment upholding the rights of children, teachers and schools. Here are some quotations from the judgment: “I was satisfied that the…
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) ha expressed dismay over the rise in cases of political violence across the country ahead of the 2018 elections. On Monday, 16 July 2018, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) reported that a leader of an MDC Alliance’s campaign team in Mandara, Harare East, Tarisai Musurudzwa, was attacked by soldiers…
By Byron Mutingwende Development runs through the nerves of Temba “Bhuru” Mliswa, the Member of the House of Assembly for Norton whose great works are positively impacting the generality of people in the constituency. The legislator, who uses yellow as his campaign colour, upped his drive to retain the seat beginning this July…
By Byron Mutingwende As if un-procedurally firing her from her position as Chamber Secretary was not enough, the Chitungwiza Municipality is adding insult to injury to Priccilar Vengesai by denying her rightful dues on the basis of gender. Vengesai joined Chitungwiza Municipality in January 2013 as a Chamber Secretary. She is a registered…
How important is ethnicity in the election? Zimbabwe’s political landscape as largely been devoid from backing on grounds of ethnic group, however, there is always a tendency to believe that, to win a presidential race a candidate needs to forge ethnic alliances to get a majority of that vote. In other words, there is always…
By Byron Mutingwende Residents of Galloway Residential area of Norton have vowed to rally behind the leadership of the current Member of the House of Assembly for the area Hon Temba Mliswa and aspiring independent councillor Dr Godfrey Mugaviri. “Before the coming in of Hon Temba Mliswa as MP for Norton, we were…
By Harry Ruka Mazhindu The two main political parties ruling ZANU-PF and MDC Alliance a few weeks ago released their manifestos after months of agonising over what to put, what to prioritise and what to leave. But do manifestos matter anymore? In an era of broken promises and an electorate that count. Here are three…
By Byron Mutingwende In a typical fashion reminiscent of the Exodus of Israelites from the oppressive Egypt to Canaan, Kenneth Shupikai Musanhi, the Member of the House of Assembly for Bindura North Constituency has embarked on a number of projects to uplift the lives of the people in the area. Born on the…
By Byron Mutingwende The social media has revolutionised communication and has become a cheaper way for young people to access information. This emerged at the campaign “Budding Voices Debates and Dialogue Series” being run by the Youth Empowerment and Transformation Trust (YETT) on Friday 6 July 2018. Media personality, Acie Lumumba said…
