Politics
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Traditional leaders congratulate Zimbabweans for peaceful polls, welcome ZANU PF victory
Writes Elvis Dumba Mutorashanga – Traditional leaders in Zvimba North Constituency have congratulated the people of Zimbabwe for showing political maturity by peacefully participating in the country’s general elections. During a ZANU PF victory celebration held in Zvimba North Constituency over the weekend, Headman Katizagomo, born Gibson Jenami, paid tribute to Zimbabweans for heeding the…
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Palestinian President congratulates President Mnangagwa
Mahmoud Abbas, the President of the State of Palestine who is also the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organisation has congratulated President Mnangagwa following his declaration by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) as the winner of the Zimbabwe presidential elections. President Abbas expressed great pleasure to President Mnangagwa and Palestinians’ heartfelt…
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Disinformation and defamation against EU Election Observer Mission worrisome
Writes Elvis Dumba Harare – The European Union is not happy with what it calls extensive and sustained disinformation and defamation against the European Union Election Observer Mission (EU-EOM) which observed Zimbabwe’s August 24 plebiscite. The preliminary statement on 25 August by EU-EOM concluded that the electoral environment was not conducive for voters to make…
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Mupambi flags foreign observer missions
Writes Tafadzwa Muranganwa A local observer mission, Civil Society and Churches Joint Forum (CSCJF) national coordinator, Abigale Mupambi, has come guns blazing against some foreign observer missions for unsubstantiated reports. Speaking during the presentation of CSCJF’s 2023 elections preliminary report, Mupambi said there was a need for foreign observer missions to declare where they were…
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Vote rigging allegations don’t hold water: African Christian Council International
The Grand President of the African Christian Council International (ACCI), Archbishop Johannes Ndanga has said allegations of rigging by Mr. Nelson Chamisa, the leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) altered figures in favour of President Mnangagwa of ZANU (PF) to give him election victory are false. Presenting…
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ZANU (PF) affiliates congratulate President Mnangagwa
ZANU (PF) affiliates, Young Miners for Economic Development (YM4ED) and Farmers for Economic Development (Farmers4ED) have congratulated President Emmerson Mnangagwa following his declaration by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) as the winner of the 2023 presidential election. “Young Miners for Economic Development (YM4ED) congratulates His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe, Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa on…
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ZEC dismisses social media reports on V11 forms
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has dismissed social media speculations on the recalling of election agents and observers to sign new V11 result forms saying that those reports were fictitious. In a statement released, ZEC Chief Elections Officer, Utloile Silaigwana said that the used V11 forms form the election residue and were kept securely until…
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2023 Elections: Minister Murwira meets EU Electoral Observation Mission
The Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Hon. Prof. Amon Murwira, today met with European Union Ambassadors accredited to Zimbabwe in order to update them on Zimbabwe’s position on the EU Electoral Observation Mission’s (EU EOM) Preliminary Report. The Hon. Minister stated, “Against this backdrop, Zimbabwe finds it disturbing and unfortunate that the…
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Intimidation of ERC observers and staff continues
Writes Lloyd Rabaya The Election Resource Centre (ERC) yesterday raised concern over the continued intimidation of its accredited observers and staff who observed the harmonised elections. The coercion comes after the arrest of a combined 39 ERC and Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) observers on allegations that they had intended to announce the 2023 harmonised…
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ZEC declares Emmerson Mnangagwa winner of 2023 presidential elections
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has declared Emmerson Mnangagwa of ZANU (PF) as the winner of the 2023 presidential election where he was announced to lead with 52.6% of the vote. In results delivered last night, Mnangagwa’s arch-rival and main challenger, Nelson Chamisa of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CC), garnered 44% of the presidential…
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Zimbabwe elections fell short of international standards: SADC Observer Mission
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Electoral Observation Mission has noted with concern that some aspects of the Zimbabwe 2023 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). This was revealed by His Excellency, Dr. Nevers Mumba, former…
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International standards adhered to during Zimbabwe’s elections: Palestine
The Palestinian Elections Observation team is of the view that the 2023 harmonised elections were generally held in accordance with international standards. The Palestinian Observation team comprised high-level officials including Mr. Hisham Kuhail, the Chief Electoral Officer of the Central Elections Commission of Palestine (CEC), Mr. Jameel Alkhaldi, the Director of the regional office of…
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2023 Elections: voters speak
Writes Lloyd Rabaya HARARE – As people trickled into the Warren Park 6 Primary School Polling Station a few minutes before the eighth hour, the atmosphere was getting as dark as the night came. After being told that they should queue in lines as voting was to start at 20:00 hours, they questioned why that…
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ERC, ZESN assesses voting day
The Election Resource Centre (ERC) and the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) have trained and deployed accredited observers to every constituency, district, and province in the country for the 2023 harmonised elections. This Midday Statement is based on reports received from these observers although it is provisional in nature as the data collection process is…
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Rigging fears as ballot papers not available in 22 wards in Harare
Voting started well in most rural constituencies perceived to be the ruling party ZANU (PF) strongholds but electorates in the capital city Harare were stranded after the delayed distribution of ballot papers. Speaking to this publication at 1415 hours in Harare at the Budiriro 1 high School Polling Station, a voter who can not be…
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2023 Elections: ActionAid Zimbabwe’s Social Justice Manifesto outlines citizens’ demands
ActionAid Zimbabwe, an organisation working to achieve social justice, gender equality, and poverty eradication has relaunched the Social Justice Manifesto. Initially launched following extensive research and consultations with communities and stakeholders ahead of the general elections in July 2018, the manifesto sets an agenda and path towards a just society for Zimbabweans. “The Manifesto amplifies the voices…
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MISA urges media coverage that guards against electoral disputes
Writes Muchaneta Chimuka Misinformation, unbalanced reporting, and lack of professionalism by the media have been observed as the major drivers of electoral disputes in most countries, especially during and after the election period. This came out at a media discussion held by the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) in Harare on Monday, which coincided…
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Joaquim Chissano leads prayer meeting for peaceful elections in Zimbabwe
HE Joaquim Chissano, the former President of Mozambique has joined the call for peace by the Zimbabwe Council of Churches, which brought together political parties, as well as local and international observers at the National Prayer meeting held in Harare today. HE Chissano began his statement by quoting the Gospel according to Matthew Chapter 5…
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CCC supporters hope for a better Zimbabwe under Nelson Chamisa
Writes Lloyd Rabaya Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader, Nelson Chamisa, yesterday held his party’s last rally before elections in the capital city, Harare where thousands of his supporters as well as local and international observers were in attendance. During the rally, this publication caught up with a number of CCC supporters and interviewed them…
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Status of 2023 Election Campaign Promises on Natural Resources, Mining and Service Delivery
Writes Environmental Law Association (ZELA) Status of 2023 election campaign promises on natural resources, mining, and service delivery While we remain impartial, and apolitical and work across the political divide with elected officials that include Councilors, Members of Parliament, and the Executive to be accountable, as ZELA, we have committed ourselves to read, assess and…
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Zimbabwe Election Observation a learning curve: Palestinian delegation
Writes Lloyd Rabaya The Palestinian Election Observation Mission has said that observing the Zimbabwean Election is also a learning curve as they will be witnessing all the procedures. The Palestine Election Observation Mission is among other missions that are going to be the eyes and ears of the nation and the international community at large.…
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Peace journalism fundamental during elections
Writes Chimeno Azriel Media practitioners were urged to practice and exercise peace journalism ahead of the August 23 harmonised elections. This was revealed by Mr. Toneo Rutsito, the Chairman of the Zimbabwe Online Content Creators (ZOCC) during the Media and Elections Reporting Training workshop held at Odyssey Lodge in Kadoma on Saturday. Media practitioners of…
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EU Election Observation Mission astounded by claims of interference and improper conduct
EU Election Observation Mission Chief Observer Fabio Massimo Castaldo arrived in Zimbabwe yesterday morning to continue his observation of the electoral process of the 23 August elections in person. Upon his arrival, he stated: “The EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) is astounded by the defamatory and malicious accusations made in an article, published in…
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Government warns foreign observers against interfering in electoral processes
Nick Mangwana, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services has said the government notes with disappointment, reports carried yesterday by a local daily on alleged gross interference in Zimbabwe’s electoral processes by a named foreign observer mission. Mangwana said allegations that the foreign observer mission is giving grocery vouchers, fuel…
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ZEC releases election roadmap
Writes Lovemore Chazingwa The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), has released its latest comprehensive August 2023 election calendar for accurate guidance and planning purposes for all stakeholders. The roadmap is fed from His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr. Emmerson Mnangagwa issuing Statutory Instrument 85 of 2023 in terms of Section 144 of…
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We will promote unity among Zimbabweans: UZA
Writes Nhau Mangirazi The United Zimbabwe Alliance (UZA) says it will promote unity among Zimbabweans to embrace development goals for nation-building. In its statement to commemorate Defence Forces Day, UZA said it recognizes and celebrates the brave men and women who serve in our defence forces. “In addition to their role in national security, UZA…
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Electoral body reverses candidates withdrawal from 2023 polls
Writes Elvis Dumba Harare – Zimbabwe Elections Commission (ZEC) has rescinded the decision of withdrawing local authority candidates from the 23 August polls. In a notice, the country’s electoral management body said the candidates remain in the race for the poll, reversing its earlier notification of the duo’s withdrawal. Two of the candidates who had…
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Let’s honour our heroes’ sacrifices: Zimbabwe Council of Churches
Writes Marlvin Ngiza The Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) has appealed to all political players to be guided by the philosophy of peace, unity, and development of the nation on the eve of the 23 August polls. In a statement released to mark the Heroes Day and Defence Forces Day commemorations, the consortium undermined violence…
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SADC People’s Summit 2023 set for Angola
During the Heads of State and Government’s Summit of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) between 16 and 18 August, a group of organizations including various social and civic movements meets for the parallel SADC Peoples’ Summit under the motto “Justice – Meaningful Participation – Inclusion”. The summit will take place in Luanda at the…
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Be ethical and sensitive to children in covering election stories: Media urged
Writes Elvis Dumba Kariba – A worrying trend of the involvement of young children has been noticed in the current political landscape as politicians solicit votes in the forthcoming harmonized elections. The media has been urged to be ethical and sensitive to children in covering election stories. The sentiments came out during the Zimbabwe Media…
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Fortune Charumbira bounces back into Chiefs’ Council as Deputy President
Senator Chief Fortune Charumbira has bounced back as a legislator after his unopposed election as Deputy President of the Chiefs’ Council today in Bulawayo in polls conducted by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). After displaying leadership acumen as both the President of the Chiefs’ Council and the Pan African Parliament (PAP), the National Chiefs’ Council…
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Political parties, Church sign peace pledge
Writes Marlvin Ngiza The Zimbabwe Heads Of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) has recently spearheaded a peace campaign that has seen the church arm and political parties signing the peace pledge ahead of the fast approaching 23 August plebiscite. Speaking to this publication as an affiliating member, the Union for the Development of Apostolic Churches and Zionists…
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ZRP urges politicians to be tolerant
Writes Nhau Mangirazi Kariba – The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) national spokesperson, Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi has challenged the media to help politicians to be tolerant during the campaign period ahead of forthcoming elections. Nyathi made the remarks during the media election reporting training in Kariba where he said there is a need to respect each…
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Why I stand in solidarity with MDCT Mwonzora Election Boycott
Writes Linda Masarira, LEAD President Some time ago, I registered my concerns about the flawed delimitation report and suggested that the process be redone. Ironically, myself included had settled to just go into the elections without the contentious issues being addressed. Beyond the delimitation report was also the issue of the unconstitutional amendment of the…
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“End violence vote for her campaign” launched to foster women political participation
The “End violence vote for Her campaign” launched in Harare today seeks to foster and increase women’s political participation and uptake of leadership positions in various spheres of life. The campaign comprises a coalition of development and women’s rights organisations including the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women),…
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UZA President Elisabeth Valerio inspires aspiring Councillor
Writes Tafadzwa Muranganwa A Ward 31, Dzivarasekwa aspiring councillor, Lecy Mutsigwa revealed her strong admiration for United Zimbabwe Alliance (UZA) party president Elisabeth Valerio. Mutsigwa revealed this during a ‘campaign dialogue on opportunities and challenges facing women in politics organised by the Gender and Media Connect (GMC) on Friday, stating that the opposition female leader…
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No amount of intimidation will deter us: Musiiwa Ward 16 Villagers
Own Correspondent Villagers in Musiiwa, Ward 16 Bindura South Constituency in Mashonaland Central vowed not to elect people who are using intimidatory tactics to force them to vote for them. Speaking to this publication, several villagers from across the ward expressed concern over the way some political players are force-marching them to political meetings. The…
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Amnesty International urges prompt investigation into the death of CCC activist
Responding to news of the death of Tinashe Chitsunge, an opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activist in Harare on Thursday, allegedly at the hands of ruling ZANU-PF supporters, Khanyo Farisè, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Southern Africa, said: “The fatal attack on Tinashe Chitsunge, a CCC activist, paints a grim picture of the human…
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Political violence in Glenview condemned
Writes Elvis Dumba Harare – The Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Kazembe Kazembe, has directed the police to intensify operations that guard against political violence following skirmishes in Glenview that left one person dead. Minister Kazembe said the emergence of pockets of political violence is disturbing as it comes a few days before…
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Cut government expenditure, nip corruption: Nelson Chamisa
Writes Elvis Dumba Chinhoyi – Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) President, Nelson Chamisa, has said his government will have an efficient and lean cabinet to cut down on unnecessary expenditures. Chamisa said this to his supporters at a campaign rally held at Gadzema grounds in Chinhoyi on Monday. “We will have only fifteen cabinet ministers…
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ZANU (PF)’s Beadle Gwasira promises development in Mt Pleasant Constituency
Aspiring Member of the House of Assembly for Mt Pleasant Constituency, Mr. Beadle Musatye Gwasira has promised to bring meaningful development and sanity to the area. Speaking to this publication ahead of the impending plebiscite scheduled for 23 August this month, the experienced politician and tactician said there is more that he is planning to…
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Pan-African Parliament supports ECOWAS stance on Niger
On behalf of the Bureau and the entire membership of the Pan-African Parliament, His Excellency, Chief Fortune Zephania Charumbira, the President of the Pan-African Parliament, has commended the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and the astute leadership of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for urgently responding to the brazen coup d’ etat in the…
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Health needs heighten as Sudan conflict displaces millions of people
The conflict in Sudan that has forced 3.4 million people to flee for safety within the country and across its borders is rapidly intensifying health threats, with cases of infectious diseases and other afflictions reported among the displaced population who have sought refuge in hard-to-reach locations, with limited health services. Among those uprooted from their…
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Zimbabwe Council of churches leads peace prayer meetings
Writes Chimeno Azriel The Zimbabwe Council of Churches (ZCC) is preaching the gospel of peace and harmony as the country heads towards the August 23 harmonised elections. They recently met in Kadoma for a day of prayer which saw various Christian denominations converging in Kadoma. As the country approaches the 2023 harmonised elections, the Zimbabwe…
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Willard Jenami denied chieftainship due to links to CCC
Writes Elvis Dumba Murombedzi – Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) parliamentary candidate for Zvimba North Constituency, Willard Jenami said former President, Robert Mugabe denied him an opportunity for being installed as a chief due to his links with the opposition. Speaking during a campaign rally in Murombedzi, Zvimba that was addressed by CCC Presidential candidate,…