By Charles Dhewa People who co-exist with Kombi drivers in Zimbabwe, Matatu drivers in Nairobi’s traffic jammed roads, boda-boda motorcyclists in Kampala and similar situations in African cities have always wondered if those drivers are from the same mother. This is due to their character which is exactly the same. ‘Informal’ traders and MSMEs also…
The Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) has urged the New Government to prioritise strengthening of Primary Health Care (PHC) to achieve Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals SDGs). “Now that the elections are over, the people of Zimbabwe expect the fulfilment of the election manifesto, in which you promised massive improvement in…
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…
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…
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…
By Farai Chirimumimba Zimbabwe’s presidential race is tightening in its final 10 days with opposition MDC Alliance candidate Nelson Chamisa narrowing the gap on front runner incumbent President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a final poll showed on Friday. An Afrobarometer poll showed 40 percent of the voters are set to back Mnangagwa in the July 30 first…
The Director of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Affairs in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Mrs. Gülfem Veziroğlu Sevgili has urged the United Nations (UN) to consider bringing new methodology and substance in negotiating a breakthrough to the Cyprus question. Addressing journalists fro around the globe in Lefkoşa ahead of the 20th July…
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 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 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…
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…
By Farai Chirimumimba Most countries rarely undertake independent voters’ roll audits to correct any irregularities noted, and when they do there are always disagreements on the terms of reference of the auditing company. For instance last year, Kenya appointed international auditing firm KPMG to audit its 19.6 million Register of Voters months ahead of the…
By Dumisani O. Nkomo The new government administration has adopted the term “Zimbabwe is open for business “ as its official policy statement . I would like to argue that whilst in terms of rhetoric Zimbabwe may be open for business a lot needs to be done in order to really make Zimbabwe open for…
The current ruling ZANU-PF government has in recent years been accused of rigging elections or unfair conduct. This is not a phenomenon unique to Zimbabwe, across the world; there are many countries where elections are taking place with a cloud of rigging allegations. In major democracies like the United States, there are reports that political…
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 Harry Ruka Mazhindu Ever since the 1990s, international observation of elections has become widespread that refusing observers is an indirect admission of fraud as was the case in Zimbabwe between 2002-2013 presidential, parliamentary and subsequent general elections. However, observers opinions despite usually varied can almost do nothing to impact on the outcome of an…
By Byron Mutingwende I write this piece to acknowledge one of those unsung heroes in the diplomatic, humanitarian and development field in Zimbabwe. I must hasten to note that he was recognised as the diplomat of the year in 2016 by the Diplomat Trust of Zimbabwe. His energetic and engaging personality precedes him….
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 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…
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…
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 Dumisani O. Nkomo The argument that was and is still propounded by some sections of the Zimbabweans society is both frivolous and vexatious for a number of reasons which I will discuss in this instalment. Let me however explode and dispel the myths that are used to dismiss devolution of power which is enshrined…
By Farai Chirimumimba But as the saying goes, “politicians campaign in poetry and govern in prose”. Now six months into a turbulent presidency beset by legitimate issues and unfilled promises, how well has President Emmerson Mnangagwa translated his lofty pledges into public policy? On Thursday, Mnangagwa finishes his first six months, yes, months in office….
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…
By Farai Chirimumimba An estimated 5.4 million Zimbabweans head to the polls in July/August however, actual date is yet to be announced to cast votes for a president, 210 House of Assembly members (MPs) and (60 Senators and another 60 Women quota members indirectly) and 1,958 councillors in what has been billed as the…
By Harry Ruka Mazhindu Based on experience, a coalition government cannot provide the required stability for the development of the country because of the bickering on service delivery issues such as sanitation, water and electricity in relation to complex national policy issues. The coalition government formed by ZANU-PF led by former president Robert Mugabe and…
By Harry Ruka Mazhindu There is no doubt that our diversity of ethnicity makes us uniquely special; an amalgam of over 20 tribes (when we break-up the Shona group), beautiful topography and Zimbabwe’s legendary good naturalness mixed with drive and energy makes Zimbabwe a paradise of sorts. Deeper, the fissures along partisan politics that open…
The Passengers Association of Zimbabwe (PAZ) has said it was saddened by the death of a secondary school student when a commuter omnibus overturned before Southlea Park turn-off along Simon Mazorodze Road on 9 May 2018. “We join the relatives and friends of the 12 who were seriously injured in praying for their recovery. PAZ…
By Farai Chirimumimba Worldwide, Independence remarks have been undoubtedly political, they usually follow the same pattern which includes counting the years since Independence, extol on the virtue of liberty and unity. For the past 38 years Zimbabweans have been accustomed to the underlying themes through former president Robert Mugabe and now Emmerson Mnangagwa who is…
By Farai Chirimumimba Electoral Cycle Zimbabwe hold harmonized elections after every five years. This year the country will hold the harmonized elections in July/ August. What are harmonised elections? As alluded above, Zimbabwe will in July/August hold harmonised elections that is where elections for President, Parliament (National Assembly or Lower House – 210 members and…
By Mokhumi Valela Zimbabwe, my pride, Zimbabwe, my inspiration, Country of my predecessors, Zimbabwe, whole of Africa’s hope. What home is there? When home is a reliable source of brutality and barbaric acts, When home is being turned into a prison of innocent civilians, When home ravages and havocs its own people’s dignity. …
By Mokhumi Valela The crucial 2018 harmonised elections are upon us as the nation of Zimbabwe. As different stakeholders prepare for this decisive process for our country, one wonders what its temperament will be. Questions that come to the fore are whether this plebiscite will match the principles of our supreme law of being peaceful,…
By Eric M Moyo I am now more than ready to vote, and now the wait seems like a long time. I left before I am ready to go and scribble what could be perhaps one of the most important Xs in my life on a ballot paper. Besides, when do I ever get to…
By Kiamuhetsi Sibanda Since independence our county has gone through seven electoral cycles. These electoral cycles have been associated with young people being used for campaigns and the dirty work for the politicians, genocides, violence and abductions. This has resulted in most young people absconding anything to do with the electoral processes, breeding a generation…
by Dr Ibrahim Assane Mayaki Twenty years ago, I hoped for an Africa that would draw closer and forge forward boldly, despite a bag of mixed fortunes. Rwanda had just been blighted by genocide; the ubiquitous coup d’état still reared its ugly head in West Africa; although a tentative calm prevailed in Central Africa,…
By Farai Chirimumimba Beginning with his inauguration speech on 24 November 2017, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has used any other forum he gets to remind delegates or guests that Zimbabwe will hold a free, fair and credible harmonised election. Whether there is going to be a free, fair and credible election can be shown through opinion…
By Farai Chirimumimba The major focus of this article is to shed light on the complex dynamics of the debate around the National Blood Service of Zimbabwe (NBSZ) bloody operations and to consider how the blood donors, media and the general public can contribute meaningfully and constructively to the debate. The debate should be balanced,…
Imagine President Emmerson Mnangagwa squaring off with other presidential candidates such as MDC Alliance hopeful Advocate Nelson Chamisa, National People’s Party (NPP) Dr Joice Mujuru and Alliance for People’s Agenda (APA) candidate Dr Nkosana Moyo. Zimbabwe has never had a live presidential debate but that may change ahead of the ensuing harmonised elections in July/August….
By Byron Mutingwende Church leaders in Zimbabwe had a meeting with President Mnangagwa where they expressed their willingness to be represented in Parliament but there are mixed views concerning that request. Speaking at the church interface meeting with President Mnangagwa, Bishop Clement Chisango of the Ebenezer Holy Church who represented the Council of…
STAKEHOLDERS have voiced concern over the calibre of councillors that sit in the assembly of the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA), with the majority of them questioning their suitability to make informed decisions. But few know the extent of the damage these 58 councillors inflict on the beautiful game of soccer by their lack of knowledge…
