The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) deployed long term observers (LTOs) to observe the Nomination Court proceedings in all 10 provinces across the country and came up with a cocktail of recommendations. The LTOs observed proceedings in a total of 116 Nomination Courts including Ward level, national assembly and the presidential nomination courts across…
THE Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) has welcomed the statement made by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) on Wednesday, July 4, 2018 in which the military clarified that it will not interfere with the 2018 harmonised election. ZimRights welcomed the pronouncement by the ZDF’s director of public relations, Overson Mugwisi, that the army will uphold…
By Byron Mutingwende In 2008, the Bindura South Constituency resembled a cemetery due to the grinding poverty brought about by hyperinflation. It is that time when Remigious Matangira, the current Member of the House of Assembly for the area began his philanthropic work by spearheading development initiatives. “Bindura became my permanent home in…
The Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) today petitioned the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to facilitate the voting of teachers who are going to be displaced from their polling stations as they attend to ZEC business. Most teachers in rural schools who were engaged as polling officers for the 30th of July 2018 polls ,were…
Zimbabwe is ready for the fulfilment of the message of change that we have been preaching for a long time, MDC President Advocate Nelson Chamisa has said. “There is no doubt in my mind that the people of Zimbabwe are ready to give us the mandate to lead the country to prosperity. We are ready…
By Dumisani O. Nkomo In last week’s instalment, I analysed the chances of President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Nelson Chamisa’s prospects in the 30 July Presidential race. In this instalment I will focus on the chances of four other contenders for the presidency but more importantly assess the extent to which they will have an impact…
“Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa says he loves ZANU (PF) more than anything else but as a fellow party member I think the Advisor to President Mnangagwa should publicly apologise if he should entertain any hopes of coming back to represent us in the House of Assembly for Norton,” said Masimba Chikukwa, a Norton resident. “The…
The United Nations (UN) has welcomed the High Court’s decision to protect children from being forced to attend political rallies. The ruling from Zimbabwe’s High Court, announced on 28 June 2018, states that school children must not be forced to attend political rallies and that political parties must not be allowed to use school equipment,…
By Byron Mutingwende The Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) has urged politicians to reach out to to their supporters and educate them that they are all bound by the pledge they signed. The call comes amid isolated reports of intra and inter-party violence ahead of the elections scheduled for 30 July 2018. “There is…
THE opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has hauled President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his ruling ZANU PF party to court in the hunt for an order compelling them not to engage in electoral malpractices by seeking to procure the support or assistance of traditional leaders and making them to act in a partisan manner or…
The gazetting of the National Assembly Candidates by Direct Election on the 22nd of June, 2018 and the candidates for Local Authorities is indicative of a political party system that persistently and systematically erodes women’s right to equal representation as evidenced by the appallingly low numbers of women being fielded by political parties in this July…
The Malawian authorities must urgently overhaul the criminal justice system to protect people with albinism, who face the persistent threat of being killed for their body parts in a country where the vast majority of these horrific crimes remain unresolved and unpunished, Amnesty International said today. Since November 2014, the number of reported crimes against…
Justice Mafusire today ruled that the ZANU PF Party should stop abusing learners, teachers and school property in pursuit of private political interests. The matter was heard at Masvingo High Court chambers. The Amalgamated Rural Teachers’ Union of Zimbabwe (ARTUZ) was applicant being ably represented by Doug Coltart of Mtetwa and Nyambirai law firm. Veritas…
By Harry Ruka Mazhindu How Zimbabweans are going to vote is not clear. But the result will matter both to the future of their country and the region. A casual visitor to Harare will notice that Zimbabwe is holding a general election on 30 July. Along the main streets and in the central Business district…
The United Nations has welcomed the move by the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission (NPRC) of bringing together the principals of the political parties to pledge for peace ahead of the election on 30 July 2018. Bishow Parajuli, the UN Resident Coordinator said the move embeds the principles of peace as a constitutional value. The…
By Byron Mutingwende “We are appalled by the construction of a filling station on a wetland in Kambuzuma. The construction further compromises water delivery and is a clear violation of our environmental rights,” fumed Joseph Kahari, the Secretary for Governance of the Blue Agenda Trust. The Parliament of Zimbabwe has produced a report…
Harare – 25 June 2018 – The Election Resource Centre (ERC), in collaboration with its partners, is conducting an independent audit of the “Final Voters’ Roll” that will be used for the 2018 Harmonised Elections. This follows release of the “Final Voters’ Roll” by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), on 15 June 2018, in a secure…
By Davison Kaiyo While the “Zimbabwe is open for business” mantra is good in attracting foreign investors the government of Zimbabwe need to step up efforts to curtail illicit financial flows (IFFs) by enforcing anti avoidance provisions especially towards aggressive tax planning structures in line with the current transfer-pricing framework that was introduced into the…
By Farai Chirimumimba Although he arrived well after 4pm which is rather late to begin addressing a rally, in a show of defiance or probably a show of “force”, Vice-President General Constantino Chiwenga (Rtd) was composed and told a gathering at Chibuku Stadium in Chitungwiza (about 27 kilometres south of Harare) on Sunday that what…
Following an invitation by the Zimbabwean authorities, the European Union has deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Zimbabwe to observe the harmonised elections, scheduled for 30 July 2018. This is a further demonstration of the European Union’s long-term commitment to support credible, transparent and inclusive elections worldwide. Federica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Affairs…
By Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights The 2013 Constitution provides for the overall framework for the conduct of elections in Zimbabwe, which must be managed by an independent Zimbabwe Election Commission that is subject to the Constitution and the other laws. The Constitution also provides for political rights – the right to vote and the…
H.E. Hon. Roger Nkodo Dang, President of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) will lead the new Bureau to the 31st Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) Summit, scheduled to take place from 25 June to 02 July 2018 in Nouakchott, the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. The new…
The International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI), as part of their joint Zimbabwe International Electoral Observation Mission, will deploy 14 long-term observers beginning on June 22, covering all 10 provinces of Zimbabwe in the period leading to the July 30, 2018 elections, on election day and in the post-election period. “Elections…
By Byron Mutingwende The financing of political parties is becoming a bone of contention as Zimbabwe slowly trudges towards the harmonised elections on 30 July 2018. Speaking at the meeting to discuss the matter on 21 June 2018, Frank Mpahlo, the Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) Programme Officer said in view of the financial…
UNICEF Zimbabwe has commended the Government of Zimbabwe and the leadership of the main opposition party, MDC Alliance, for remembering the Day of the African Child; for committing to its theme to “Leave no Child Behind in African Development” and to ensure that all children in Zimbabwe get access to quality basic social services. …
By Farai Chirimumimba Once again, Zimbabwe is witnessing an intense period stemming from the availability of the voters’ roll that has been a subject of debate in recent weeks with different interpretations of section 21 (4) by several legal minds. Whether one supports President Emmerson Mnangagwa or his main rival Nelson Chamisa, one thing is…
By Institute for Young Women Development We write with a heavy heart in such devastating times being witnessed in the country. Recent and ongoing developments in our political sphere has set us 10 years back where representation and leadership of women was less than 10% in elective politics in Zimbabwe. Owing to women’s rights…
By Byron Mutingwende There is a compelling need to license community radio stations, Amnesty International Zimbabwe (AIZ) and the Zimbabwe Association of Community Radio Stations (ZACRAS) have said. The calls emerged at the launch of the project spearheaded by the two organisations to advocate for the licensing of community radio stations as a…
By Farai Chirimumimba Promising rejuvenation of the economy, MDC Alliance made its case on Thursday for voters to back its move to the left and throw out ZANU-PF out at next month’s election. Nelson Chamisa, the leader of Zimbabwe’s opposition MDC Alliance, a grouping of seven political parties, said the manifesto was “what the people…
By Byron Mutingwende The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) should improve on transparency and accountability in order for it to pass the test of a credible, fair and transparent electoral management body. This emerged at the launch of the fourth edition of the Election Reform Barometer produced by the Election Resource Centre (ERC) in…
By Dumisani O. Nkomo It has been widely and wildly postulated that devolution of power is divisive, unviable economically and impractical in small countries. In this instalment I would like to argue that devolution of power is a system of government which has been implemented successfully in African, European and Asian countries big and small…
The International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) are fielding a joint delegation from June 2-8 to assess preparations for Zimbabwe’s July 30, 2018, harmonised presidential, parliamentary, and local government elections. This delegation represents an important component of the IRI/NDI joint Zimbabwe International Election Observer Mission (ZIEOM). The delegation includes regional…
By Farai Chirimumimba Introduction As the MDC Alliance today, 05 June 2018 presses on with electoral reforms demand, they probably survived a counter onslaught after the police refused to clear a counter ZANU-PF march which was rescheduled for tomorrow. As noted by Sachikonye (2011), violence has been woven through the intricate fabric of Zimbabwe’s political…
THE Electoral Court will today (Tuesday 05 June 2018) preside over the hearing and determination of an application filed by some Harare residents seeking to stop their clandestine transfer from voting in Mt Pleasant constituency to Mazowe South constituency under some opaque circumstances, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has reported. According to a…
By Wisdom Mumera Chairperson of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy Honourable Temba Mliswa has commended Parliament for passing the Mines and Minerals Amendment Bill hailing the move as a first step in redressing countless anomalies in the minerals sector. The Bill sailed through Parliament on Thursday and is now in the Senate…
By Byron Mutingwende Deaf Women Included, an organisation that works to amplify the voices of deaf women in Zimbabwe has called for the domestication process of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in Zimbabwe. In 2013, Zimbabwe signed and ratified the UNCRPD committing to the respect, protection and uplifting…
By Reason Dube in Masvingo MDC -T Masvingo urban candidate for the National Assembly, Takanayi Mureyi has chickened out from contesting as the party’s candidate in the forthcoming harmonised elections scheduled for July 30. Mureyi’s candidature was hotly disputed by supporters of former MP Tongai Matutu and Zanu (PF)’s Benjamin Mazarire over allegation of being…
By Byron Mutingwende Depinah Nkomo (widowed) is the owner of a successful farming enterprise in the Selous area of Chegutu, Mashonaland West Province but her road to success is not a stroll in the park. “When my husband died, he left me only a house in Waterfalls but I was born with a…
By Farai Chirimumimba Introduction The national voters’ roll inspection began in earnest on 19 May and ended yon 29 May with stakeholders having urged eligible voters to register and verify their details. Over 20, 000 election officials were reportedly deployed to some 10,807 inspection centres to register new voters and to allow already registered voters…
By Dumisani O. Nkomo It’s election year again and as usual the usual suspects are out there promising everything to everyone, everywhere they go. Pertinently below the rubble, of harmonized elections lies a very important plebiscite, local government elections. I would like to strongly argue that like in the past local government or council elections…
By Gideon Madzikatidze The Traditional Medicines Practices Council (TMPC) chairman, Mr Friday Chisanyu has appealed to and urged African governments to promote and preserve universal utilisation of African Traditional Knowledge Systems for absolute realisation of development in vast cultures that the continent is endowed with. In commemorating Africa Day, TMPC urged traditional and faith…
By Farai Chirimumimba As part of ensuring free, fair and credible general elections in July/August, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) commenced the voters roll inspection on 19 May, an exercise expected to end on 29 May. The process is one of the most importance within an electoral cycle that l have been closely following developments in…
The Zimbabwe Diaspora for Democracy Inc. has called for Zimbabweans to unite and fight the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to accommodate the Diaspora vote. In a statement, Charles Mutama, the Executive Director Zimbabwe of Diaspora for Democracy Inc. said a toxic political environment emerges in the event that the opposition suspects the ruling ZANU PF…
By Byron Mutingwende The ZANU (PF) Chairwoman for Harare Province, Ratidzo Mukarati is behaving like a demi-god and should be stopped in her tracks because she is a Grace Mugabe re-incarnate, Betty Nhambu Kaseke, the Member of the House of Assembly for Kuwadzana has said. MP Kaseke equated Mukarati to former First Lady…
The Pan African Parliament (PAP) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations partnership is working tirelessly to address food security and nutrition challenges on the continent. During the ongoing sixth ordinary session of the fourth parliament in Midrand, South Africa, various stakeholders, including Members of the Pan-African Parliamentary Alliance for Food…
