An independent eye on voters’ roll inspection in Zimbabwe: A preliminary report

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…

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Calls for people in the Diaspora to vote intensify

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…

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Mliswa vows to focus on development despite Mutsvangwa’s politicking

Norton Legislator Temba Mliswa has vowed to continue spearheading developmental programs in his constituency shunning petty politicking as his ZANU PF rival Chris Mutsvangwa has resorted to doing. Mutsvangwa recently donated various foodstuffs such as maize-meal and meat for various constituencies in Norton with people gathering to cook and eat in Jinx Town and Sandringham…

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CCMT, VIVA urge youths to embrace peace towards 2018 elections

By Joyce Mukucha and Patricia Mashiri The Centre for Conflict Management and Transformation (CCMT) has partnered with the Voices in Vision of Africa (VIVA) in creating dialogues that unite young people as well as directing them towards conducting peaceful 2018 harmonised elections. The dialogues involve youths from different political parties to encourage them to desist…

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A coalition government is a threat to Zimbabwe’s economic recovery

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…

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Why we ought to keep peace pre and post harmonised elections

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…

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ZGC calls for gender sensitive election reporting

By Joyce Mukucha and Patricia Mashiri The Zimbabwe Gender Commission (ZGC) appealed to the media to be gender-sensitive when reporting during the country’s forthcoming elections. Magaret Mukahanana- Sangarwe, the Chairperson of ZGC said it was important to engage with members of the media in order to enhance that there was balanced reporting in as much…

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Zimbabwe, EU intensify engagement

The European Union’s High Representative/Vice President Federica Mogherini  has met Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Sibusiso Busi Moyo. The meeting followed up on the visit of Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development Neven Mimica in Zimbabwe and represented another important step in developing relations between the EU and Zimbabwe. The High Representative/Vice…

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Give one of Mugabe’s 21 farms to Tsvangirai family: ZEFF

The Zimbabwe Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) has applauded President Emmerson Mnangagwa for assigning Lands Minister Perence Shiri to identify a farm to give to the late former Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s family. “We as a party which stands for economic freedom and for landless people believe that these are correct steps by the new government…

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Chief Charumbira seeks to transform PAP upon assuming institution’s presidency

By Byron Mutingwende   Chief Fortune Zephaniah Charumbira seeks to assume the presidency of the Pan Africa Parliament (PAP) so that he would transform that institution to uplift the lives of people on the continent.   “Africa remains poor in terms of development. It is notorious for the high levels of unemployment and poverty. The…

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A look into President Mnangagwa’s Independence Day speech

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…

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Beginners’ guide to understanding elections in Zimbabwe

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…

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Analysis of people living with disability and the current electoral process

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,…

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What is hindering youth participation in electoral issues?

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…

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EU stands ready to accelerate support to Zimbabwe during its transition process

Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Neven Mimica, is visiting Zimbabwe, where he is meeting President Emmerson Mnangagwa, as well as visiting EU funded projects. New EU-funded programmes worth €23 million will be launched to improve people’s access to health services and enhance their livelihoods. This visit takes place ahead of the elections in Zimbabwe…

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Former journalist and academic takes Goche head-on

Nicholas Goche, Zanu pf’s incumbent Member of the House of Assembly for Shamva North faces a tough race in the ruling party’s upcoming primary elections.   The race for the Shamva North constituency has attracted three other candidates: former journalist and academic, Stanley Karombo, school drop out Zex Pamacheche and Oscar Gorerino, a gold panner….

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The African Continental Free Trade Area: Moving African integration further forward

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,…

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Zvishamiso Zvevapostori Church prays for peaceful elections

By Byron Mutingwende   Zvishamiso Zvevapostori Church in Africa (ZZCA) has used its Passover Conference held in Marondera to pray for peaceful elections and blessings.   The Passover prayer meeting, held under the theme “When I see blood, I pass over” was attended by ZZCA members from the country’s 10 provinces as well as representatives…

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ZEC answers fundamental questions about the elections

The Commissioner of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Joyce Kazembe, answered important questions about elections in an interview with Radio Zimbabwe Presenter, Sifelani Chikwape recently. Spiked Online Media reproduces part of the interview excerpts below: 1.What is the purpose of the voter registration certificate or slip issued to a registrant?   Answer The voter registration certificate…

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AGA, ACDEG promote advancement of democracy, development

By Byron Mutingwende   ActionAid Zimbabwe has said it is of paramount importance to capacitate journalists and other key stakeholders on the African Governance Architecture (AGA) and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (ACDEG).   For that reason, ActionAid Zimbabwe (AAZ) is implementing a 3-year project on African Governance Architecture (AGA) focusing on…

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Time for Zimbabwe to hold first presidential debates

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….

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Divergent views among church leaders over joining Parliament

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…

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Signs of Hope Trust remembers women with disabilities

By Joyce Mukucha Signs of Hope Trust a Zimbabwe held a meeting with persons with disabilities to teach them on the importance of participating in the electoral processes. Speaking during the occasion to celebrate women with disabilities held on the 9th of March 2018 in Harare, Samantha Sibanda, the founder of Signs of Hope said…

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ZWPC launches Women’s Manifesto

By Patricia Mashiri and Joyce Mukucha The Zimbabwe Women’s Parliamentary Caucus (ZWPC) has launched a 50/50 Advocacy Campaign and Manifesto which seeks to spell out their situation and build on the earlier progress made towards gender equality. The manifesto calls for recognition of women’s demands and government’s accountability in advancing gender equality in line with…

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Miners indiscriminately destroying the environment

By Byron Mutingwende   The Marange Development Trust has bemoaned the indiscriminate destruction of the environment by miners in the diamond area of Manicaland.   “Before the discovery of diamond, families used to depend on crop cultivation, breeding goats, cattle and chickens, selling wild fruit, charcoal and gardening. However with mining, there is widespread water…

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Zimbabwe’s Mnangagwa’s first 100-days: what has the government actually done?

By Farai Chirimumimba Emmerson Mnangagwa was recently all over social media telling everyone who cares to listens the achievements that his government has made since taking over on 24 November 2017.  But with his administration reaching its 100-day in office on Sunday 4 March, what has it actually achieved? It has been implementing his inauguration…

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PAP seeks increase of parliamentary ownership of international arms control instruments

The Pan-African Parliament,  in collaboration with the Parliamentary Forum on Small Arms and Light Weapons will host the regional seminar “Connecting the dots: Supporting 2030 Agenda, the Arms Trade Treaty and the United Nations Programme of Action on Small Arms implementation through increased parliamentary engagement and action in international processes” on March 2-3 2018 at the PAP Headquarters…

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ACCZ seeks to be peace ambassadors: Chitope

By Byron Mutingwende   Conflicts are often escalated in the period immediately prior, during and after elections but the church should preach peace, Archbishop Lameck Chitope of the Apostolic Christian Council of Zimbabwe (ACCZ) has said.   Chitope’s sentiments followed the violence, harassment and hate language against MDC-T Deputy President Dr. Thokozani Khupe and Secretary…

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PAP holds March Committee Sittings

The March Sitting of the Permanent Committees of the Pan African Parliament (PAP) will take place in Midrand, from the 2nd to the 09th at the PAP precincts located at 19 Richards Drive, Gallagher Estate. At least 200 Legislators representing various African countries are expected to convene and work on this agenda under the theme “Winning the Fight…

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WCoZ seeks to make NPRC capacitated to protect women survivors of abuse

By Joyce Mukucha In a way of empowering women and protecting their rights, the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) is developing programmes aimed at ensuring that women who are subjected to persecution, torture and other forms of abuse receive rehabilitative treatment and support. As proposed in the National Peace and Reconciliation Commission Act (NPRC) that…

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Stakeholders discuss strategy to improve tourism

By Byron Mutingwende   Stakeholders in tourism are exploring ways of coming up with a strategy to act as a roadmap to develop the sector as an important pillar of the economy. The meeting, held at the Harare International Conference Centre on 8 February 2018, was graced by Vice President General (Rtd) Dr. Constantino Guveya…

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