Mutsvangwa Faces Political Extinction After Norton Hammering

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…

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Fully Comply with Principles of Election Management: ZEC urged

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…

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Policies and development should prioritise the poor: AAZ social justice manifesto

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…

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For Kuwadzana it’s Betty Nhambu-Kaseke, Zanu PF Harare’s only female candidate

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…

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Need for disability inclusive and responsive electoral processes: ZESN

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…

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Relatively peaceful environment a cover for democratic deficits: ZSF

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…

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ZESN welcomes reversal of positioning of voting booths decision by ZEC

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…

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Change methodology of negotiation in the Cyprus question: UN urged

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…

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2018 Voters Roll an Improvement over 2013 Preliminary Voters Roll – ZESN

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…

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Erhürman: “We are doing our best for a fair and permanent solution”

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…

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TRNC appeals to international support in solving the Cyprus question

By Byron Mutingwende   The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is appealing for support from the international community so as to come up with a lasting solution to the Cyprus question.   Briefing journalists ahead of the 20th July celebrations at his residence in Lefkosa yesterday, the TRNC President Mr Mustafa Akinci said he…

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Upsurge in political violence worrisome: ZimRights

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…

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Temba Mliswa’s development wave sweeps through Norton

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…

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Turkish Ambassador praises Zimbabwe for not sheltering Fetö terrorists

The Turkish Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Hakan Kivanç has praised Zimbabwe for making sure that the terrorist organisation, FETO, could not find a shelter to nestle in this Southern African country due to the vigilant position of the authorities. Ambassador Kivanç made the remarks at the Turkish Embassy in Harare during the second commemorative ceremony of the…

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Some questions answered ahead of 30 July harmonised elections

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…

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Galloway residents of Norton pledge support for Mliswa, Mugaviri

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…

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Kenneth Musanhi taking Bindura North to Canaan

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…

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We will deal with threats to the organisation: ZimRights

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) has vowed to deal with internal and external threats that are threatening to destabilise the organisation. The ZimRights mandate is to protect, defend and promote human rights in Zimbabwe, using a grassroots approach but there are reported threats from former members to derail the organisation’s operations. “This agenda is…

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Social media a cheaper way for young people to access information

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…

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2018 elections a critical test of Zimbabwe’s reform process: EU

“These elections are a critical test of Zimbabwe’s reform process. Given the context of past elections, great efforts need to be made to ensure public and political confidence in the 2018 polls,” stated Elmar Brok, Chief Observer of the EU Election Observation Mission, in a press conference in Harare on Friday. Mr. Brok added: “Necessary…

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ZESN report makes recommendations to Nomination Court

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…

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ZimRights welcomes ZDF statement of neutrality

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…

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Remigious Matangira spearheads development in Bindura South Constituency

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…

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ARTUZ petitions ZEC to facilitate voting of displaced rural teachers

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…

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WHO WILL WIN THE ELECTIONS? Dark Horses, Spoilers and Kingmakers

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…

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Apologise to the people of Norton: Mutsvangwa urged

“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…

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Threats to ‘burn’ candidate’s house as tensions rise

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) has said it has received reports in Mudzi, Mashonaland East Province, that indicate that police recently arrested ruling party Zanu-PF supporters and war veterans for threatening to burn the house of United African National Council (UANC) candidate, Silver Chiripanyanga, ahead of the 2018 harmonised elections scheduled for July 30….

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Respect the peace pledge: ZPP urges politicians

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…

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Mnangagwa, ZANU (PF) and chiefs sued over electoral malpractices

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…

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WiPSU bemoans stifling of women’s rights to equal political participation

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…

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UN Strategic Framework lauded for catalysing development results in Zimbabwe

28 June 2018, Harare – Today the Government and the United Nations together with development partners convened high level review meeting to validate and take stock of development results delivered, mid-way of the programme cycle, under 2016-2020 Zimbabwe UN Development Assistance Framework (ZUNDAF) contributing to national development priorities.   The high-level meeting co-chaired by the…

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UN welcomes peace pledge by political parties

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…

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ERC to conduct independent audit of the 2018 Final Voters’ Roll

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…

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