Zimbabwe: SADC Expresses concern on the statements made about its Electoral Observation Mission in Zimbabwe and the personal attacks on its Head of SEOM following release of its Preliminary Statement on Zimbabwe Harmonised Elections (26.08.2023)

Zimbabwe: Election Resource Centre (ERC) – Alert: Continued Intimidation of ERC Observers and Staff (26.08.2023)

Zimbabwe: UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) – Security Advisory on Barricaded Roads in Harare CBD (25.08.2023)

A look into SADC EOM Preliminary Report on the Harmonised Elections in Zimbabwe

In conclusion, the Mission observed that the pre-election and voting phases, on 23-24 August 2023 Harmonised Elections were peaceful, and calm. However, for reasons outlined above,the Mission noted that some aspects of the Harmonised Elections, fell short of the requirements of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Electoral Act, and the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021)” (SADC, 25.08.2023).

Today there was out of the world acknowledgement. I didn’t expect this. So many Election Observation Missions (EOMs) are filled with a lot of procedure, protocol and saying it was in generally fair or credible elections. That was what I anticipated from the Southern African Development Community(SADC) EOM for the Harmonised Elections of 2023 in Zimbabwe. However, I was wrong.

The SADC EOM Preliminary Report is 11 pages long. I will only take a few quotes or paragraphs and discuss that. As it shows the sentiment and also the far reaching conclusions it had. This isn’t an ordinary report. Neither is it what they tend to be. That’s why certain aspect will infuriate the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC). These two are the ones that damaged and hurt by the assessment made by the SADC EOM.

The mission was informed that the delimitation exercise that was conducted in 2022 by the ZEC was marred with controversy. In one way or another, concerned stakeholders claimed that the report that ZEC submitted failed to observe the constitutional requirements for such an exercise, and that there were also divisions amongst serving commissioners of the ZEC regarding the veracity of the report. The main allegations made against the report was that it constituted gerrymandering, and that it failed to observe the correct methodology for calculating the 20% variance constitutional rule with respect to minimum and maximum sizes of the 210 electoral constituencies” (SADC, 25.08.2023).

Apart from the above safeguard measure against the abuse of the voters roll, there is also room to note that as a constitutional body, the ZEC is obliged to give effect to the constitution as the supreme law, in this regard, the requirement for transparent and fair elections, instead of relying on legislation (the Cyber and Data Protection Act) that negates the specific requirement. In addition to the fees levied for access to the printed voters roll, the mission notes that the above scenario is restrictive regarding access to the voters’ roll by interested persons, including political parties” (SADC, 25.08.2023).

The Mission noted that the Patriot Act is incompatible with the spirit of section 61(1) of the Constitution, and paragraph 4.1.2 of the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, which requires Member States to uphold, amongst others, the freedom of expression” (SADC, 25.08.2023).

The Mission was informed that the rural vote may be compromised by alleged intimidation attributed to a group called Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ), which is said to be a quasi-security intelligence organisation. The group was said to have been deployed to wards and around 36,000 villages. The allegations were that people were intimidated to vote in a particular manner and were warned that it would be easy to determine who voted against certain parties” (SADC, 25.08.2023).

The Mission commends the people of Zimbabwe for maintaining a peaceful political environment during the pre-election period, and on voting day. The Mission will release its final report after the validation and proclamation of final results, as provided for in the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections” (SADC, 25.08.2023).

These words are stern from an EOM at this point. The SADC EOM didn’t hold back. The Commissioners at ZEC should feel the pinch here. We know ZANU-PF will be unhappy with this, as they are now under scrutiny and by someone who is seen as their ally. Meaning Harare will be furious over this. That’s just how this goes and incumbent Mnangagwa will not acknowledge this, as it undermines his legitimacy.

This Preliminary Report is harsh and piercing through the harmonised elections. It just saying it straight forward. Telling how ZEC and the authorities planned it all. Withheld information, the lack of transparency and the gerrymandering for one-party gain, which is the ruling regime. The ZANU-PF thought they could do like they always do. However, even SADC EOM isn’t playing ball this time around.

ZANU-PF and ZEC has now gotten blasted by SADC. That wasn’t in the cards in 2023, but that has now happened. Peace.

Zimbabwe: Election Resource Centre (ERC) and Zimbabwe Electoral Support Network (ZESN) Alert (24.08.2023)

A memo on the Harmonised Elections in Zimbabwe

There will be questions and a hill of doubt after the dust is settled. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commision (ZEC) and authorities actions during the last 48 hours are the reason for it. Not only the additional day of voting. No, the whole charade and the manner of the election was held.

It was like ZEC wanted it to be hectic, bad and didn’t have the logistical support to hold a proper election. That how it can be perceived and it isn’t the look any in coming government to have. As the whole plot of ballot challenges, duplicated party candidates and other issues are showing the intentions form the get-go.

This ZEC wasn’t impartial or independent. No, it worked for one objective and one objective only. That to serve the state, the ZANU-PF and whatever else that secures victory for the incumbent President. Everything else is a side-show and the usage of Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ) and Zimbabwe Republican Police (ZRP) to divert, distort and intimidate the population. Therefore, there is not many reasons to trust the outcome.

The ZEC can call for peace and say whatever it needs to say. However, we know there was more at stake and the ZEC wouldn’t risk to undermine the authority or the power of the incumbent. No, this game has been played before and is done so to perfection now. Even if the ZEC looks hopeless, inept and like it doesn’t know what it is doing. Nevertheless, that is done so you can talk about late delivery of ballots and lack of proper supervision at polling stations. While there will be talk of violence against opposition polling agents and also the arrests of CSOs Electoral Observation Monitoring Teams, which also happened during the polls. Just showing how the regime and ZEC wants to do this in darkness.

The ZANU-PF and ZEC aren’t interested in transparency or openness about the elections. They want nobody to look at it or talk about it. These ones in power wants their say and their tally announced. They will let the opposition get seats and get a few offices. We know that is just to make it seem legit, but the whole game is to secure the majority and the seats to give the President total control of the Parliament. Nothing is left to chance and the staff at ZEC knows this…

No one should be shocked or in awe by this in 2023. Elections under the reigns of ZANU-PF haven’t gotten better over the years. No, it is just getting worse and we should fear if there are riots, demonstrations or other public displeasure after the announced results. Because, the last election had a bloody end-game and a finalization. During the last term and the 2nd Republic. ZANU-PF tried to dismantle and weaken Nelson Chamisa. They tried to undermine and takeaway his party from underneath him. However, him and his allies cleverly outmanoeuvred them. That’s why the CCC is taking seats and winning people’s hearts.

While the CCC and Chamisa is winning hearts. It isn’t getting a total victory or a landslide. No, matter what the will of the people. It is the will of the ones who appointed the ZEC that matters. The people are pawns and their ballots will be cooked. ZEC is preparing tabulations and counting, which will benefit the President and ZANU-PF. They will not even hide it, but do in plain sight. That is just what is happening here.

Elections held in darkness, on overtime and without proper logistics. An election held with intimidation and with FAZ playing the mind-games with electorate. That’s what is up. There is not sincere or honest about it. ZEC already showed that with the ballots and the court cases, which only gave political capital to the ZANU-PF. Therefore, we all knew the gig was up.

I wish I could be more hopeful and giddy. Nelson Chamisa seems like an astute leader and a man of principals. However, that doesn’t matter when the authorities and the current regime is rigging itself into power. They are willing to do anything to get their result. ZEC will announce Mnangagwa and give a full second term. ZANU-PF will have the majority of seats in Parliament and hold key offices across the Republic. Therefore, there is no surprises and only merciless involvement in the polls.

ZANU-PF will have it and Mnangagwa too. They wouldn’t allow anything else to happen. ZEC is just rubberstamping it and following procedure. While looking incompetent and inept. The ZEC has been and seems like a circus. That circus is made to play tricks on the citizens and the election monitoring teams as well. Alas, the trick has been seen before and we know why. It has been done so it easier to cook the results and announced their preferred candidates. That’s what is happening and we cannot expect anything else.

This sham, charade and lacklustre affair only shows what sort of vibe the ZANU-PF is on. They are doing this just because they have too. To show some sort of credentials and that they have “support”. While everyone knows it is ghosts, the dead and algorithms that will secure ZANU-PF victory. It won’t be the people or the citizens at large. If so… the ZANU-PF and ZEC wouldn’t need to organize an election this way. Peace.

Zimbabwe: ZimRights Calls for the Release of ZESN and ERC Staff and Volunteers (24.08.2023)

24 August 2023

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights), is outraged at the unlawful arrest and illegal detention of members of staff and volunteers for the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) and the Election Resources Centre (ERC) and calls on the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to release them without any further delays.

On the evening of 23 August 2023, armed police stormed the ZESN and ERC election data centres and offices, and in the process arrested members of staff and volunteers working on the ongoing 2023 elections and detained them unlawfully. At the time of the release of this statement, lawyers representing the two organisations have been denied access to the victims of this aggression in violation of their constitutional rights.

This development is very unfortunate coming on the day when Zimbabwe was holding its general elections under international spotlight. This raid adds to a litany of the increasing electoral transgressions that have been committed in the run-up to this election which include violence, threats of violence, voter intimidation, and failure by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to make available relevant election material on election day to allow the people to exercise their right to vote.

A day before the elections, ZimRights released a policy and practice brief titled, ‘Facing the Fear: Confronting Threats to Personal Security and Peace in Zimbabwe ’, bemoaning the use of fear and terror in preventing the full exercise of the people’s rights in Zimbabwe. The policy brief called for behavioural change, especially by security institutions that are entrusted by the Constitution of Zimbabwe with ensuring the security of the people. True to the findings of this policy and practice brief, Zimbabwean police have once again won the trophy for embarrassing the nation, making a mockery of what is supposed to be a credible democratic process. Independent election observers play an important role in building a democratic culture. In general, civil society is the voice and sight of millions of Zimbabweans who depend on their independence and expertise to appraise and support democracy and hold the government to account.

Concerned with the personal security and welfare of the detained persons, as well as the credibility of the current election processes, ZimRights calls upon the ZRP to urgently release the detained persons, return the confiscated property, and allow ZESN and ERC to continue with their important work. ZimRights reiterates the call for security sector reform in Zimbabwe to ensure that the security services uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of citizens.

Issued by the ZimRights Information Department

info@zimrights.org.zw

Zimbabwe: The game is rigged…

The Security Forces are aware of machinations by some political leaders who are encouraging their supporters to picket around polling stations in the name of “defending their vote”. We also know that some political parties are currently recruiting youths from urban areas, for deployment in some rural areas where they would co-ordinate these so-called “defend the vote” antics. We are, however, aware that these are machinations aimed at inciting violence. This conduct violates Section 90 of the Electoral Act and Sections 8 and 10 of the Maintenance of Order and Peace Act, which prohibit gathering around Polling Stations and any unauthorized congregations, respectively. This mischief must stop. The Security Forces are ready to descend on any persons who will be caught on the wrong side of the law.” – Hon Minister Kazembe Kazembe (21.08.2023)

It is now 48 hours to the polls and the harmonised elections of 23rd August 2023. The ones believing this will be any different than previous elections in Zimbabwe. Well, someone has to say and it could just be me. The incumbent will be (s)elected and he will have a massive majority in the Parliament and within local government. There will be no wave or fanfare. No, there will be delay of final results and they will ensure another term of ZANU-PF at the helm.

There is no signs on the horizon for anything different. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and everyone in the security apparatus is ready. The fear and intimidation. The intense feeling all across the board. While most of the game is pre-fixed and altered to ensure a safe journey of the President and his men.

The ZANU-PF of today wouldn’t risk anything else. It is a formality. The empty promises, the small gifts at the rallies and the buses of voter tourism. Expect more that on voting day and some shady polling stations even. There will be weird tabulations and even anomalies that makes no sense. In the past there been several of dead people voting on Robert Mugabe. So, I expect nothing less to happen in regard to Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The ones believing that he will reform or change anything is oblivious to his reign. Things aren’t getting better and nothing has been done that is substantial. There been some grand corruption scandals and such, but nothing delivered or policy wise that is significant for the citizens. ZANU-PF has the one-party control of the state and uses proxies to look “open” or “sincere”. Which is why this election will make no difference or be a vindication for the citizens.

No, the citizens are just pawns. The rallies and whatnot is nice for a token and looks like an election. However, the ballots and the announced results will be in favour of ZANU-PF. President Mnangagwa will be re-elected and there will be no mercy on the CCC. The MDC-Alliance and whatever else will have no real shot either. The other candidates will just swim out of water and struggle to breathe. That is done with intention by the ones in power. They don’t intend to let other in and if so… they are there as pawns and to play their part like Douglas Mwonzora.

Nelson Chamisa might be a wise man, might be a good leader and the hope of Zimbabwe. Him and his team of the CCC is maybe the future. Regardless of that is the case… ZANU-PF will not let them takeover or get the ability to govern. The ZANU-PF Politburo or other councils will not let that happen. No, Mnangagwa will not risk another exile without a Plan B or a way of returning to prominence. His to old to that and wouldn’t take away the prestige that his finally getting.

We who has followed know that Mnangagwa will be proclaimed and prepared to be sworn-in again. Harare will be tense and there will be open lethal brutality against anyone who defies or resist the announced results. The ones who questions or dares to protest does so with their lives at stake. The authorities and the government will not let go easily. This government has easily killed before and can do so again. The leaders and the ones in office have no scruples to end some civilians lives. As long as they profit and get political capital out of it. That’s what they do and if not… they let activists and opposition leaders go missing. They target the ones who voices of dissent and they don’t mind the ability to silence them forever. While no one will know what happened to them or how their final hours was. That’s what ZANU-PF does and that’s why I have no faith in these elections.

It is just procedure and with dire consequences. Lives will be taken and people will be scorned for life. There will be use of lethal force and use of brutal intimidation of the ones who dares to oppose it. That’s why you know the game is rigged and Mnangagwa will see another day. Peace.

Zimbabwe: Peoples Patriotic Party (PPP) – Special Endorsement of CIC Advocate Nelson Chamisa as Presidential Candidate during 23 August 2023 Harmonised Elections in Zimbabwe (20.08.2023)

Zimbabwe: Saviour Kasukuwere – Statement on Recent Acts of Political Violence (14.08.2023)