Zimbabwe Election Support Network’s (ZESN) Long-Term Observers (LTOs) report is out. It covers electoral developments within the reporting period and makes recommendations to the different electoral stakeholders. Read on to get informed.
In January 2022, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) announced that it would be conducting mobile voter registration exercises in February and April 2022. The first phase of the mobile voter registration exercise was conducted from the first to the 28th of February 2022. While the second phase is scheduled for 11-30 April
2022.
Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (ZESN) Long-Term Observers (LTOs) were on the ground monitoring electoral and political developments throughout the country. This report covers developments that occurred in the last two weeks of February 2022. ZESN hopes that the report will complement the information available for use in the development and reinforcement of strategies aimed at safeguarding the health of citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic. Electoral developments within the reporting period are also highlighted and appropriate recommendations proffered for consideration by the different electoral stakeholders.
Political Campaigns
LTOs reported a surge in political campaign activities by political parties following the proclamation of the dates for the byelections. Methods used by political parties to campaign include door to door visits, physical meetings, posters, social media and mobile roadshows and the use of public address systems such as hailers. The campaigns have been marred by allegations of partisan conduct by traditional leaders, bussing of supporters to rallies and unjustly denying other parties access to public facilities.
Election Preparations by ZEC
ZEC conducted the first phase of the Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) exercise which primarily seeks to enroll as many eligible citizens as possible, on-to-the voter registers for the 210 National Assembly Constituencies ahead of the upcoming boundary delimitation process. In line with Statutory Instrument (SI) 2 of 2022, by-elections are scheduled to take place in 28 National Assembly constituencies and 122 council seats.
Read the full report here (349KB PDF)
Source: ZESN