#ZimDecides2023 UPDATE: Voting continues into day two

Source: AFP

Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has extended voting by a day as thousands of Zimbabweans could not cast their ballot yesterday due to delays and shortage of ballot papers at various polling centers.

This was made by the President in a statement published on his various social media pages.

40 wards including 11 in Harare which has the highest number of registered voters.

Voting began in the morning of 23^rd August and closed officially at 7pm amidst significant delays and inefficiencies mostly in the capital and Bulawayo. Some polling stations reportedly started voting an hour to the closing time while some voted late into the of voting day.

In a statement yesterday, the electoral commission blamed the delays on late printing of ballot papers caused by court challenges. In a tweet on Thursday morning, the EC admonished Zimbabweans “to be patient and observe peace while results are being counted and collated.”

Meanwhile, the leader of the main opposition has claimed that the presidential result is “settled”, insinuating that the 6.6 million voters have picked him over President Mnangagwa.

In another development, members of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change claim one person died yesterday in an attempt to cast his vote in Harare.

Reports also indicate that staff of some civil society organizations have been arrested. In a statement issued on Thursday afternoon in connection to the arrests, Zimbabwe based Crisis Coalition, representing 92 NGOs condemned what it calls a “state crackdown on CSOs” in wake of the elections”.

The presidential election results are expected to be declared by the EC within 5 days according to the electoral law.

In all, 10 candidates are running for president to lead the South African country for the next five (5) years.

#ZimDecides2023 UPDATE: Voting underway peacefully but delays and inefficiencies take center stage

Credit: Sky News

Voting is underway in most parts of Zimbabwe as the country goes through the process of electing a president, members of the national assembly and councilors for the next five years.

The president and candidate for the ruling party voted in the early hours of the day while his main contender, Nelson Chamisa voted hours later.

10 candidates are contesting for the presidency after Douglas Mwonzora of the MDC pulled out weeks to the vote cutting down the number from the initial 11.

Polls opened officially at 7:00am local time but 8 hours later, several polling stations are still yet to vote according to media reports.

Voting is expected to close at 7:00pm local time across the country.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has stated that voters in the queue by 7:00pm will be allowed to vote although Open Parly ZW, a media platform based in Harare monitored by the African Elections Project reported that the directive is not being observed in some polling stations they have observed.

ZEC also said polling stations that have witnessed delays will receive an extension in equal measure as the delay endured.

Meanwhile, local media reported missing names on the voter rolls as well as candidates on ballot papers in some constituencies. This sentiment has been corroborated by the main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).

The CCC has since called on its representatives and agents across the country to remain vigilant and not be deterred by the “intimidation tactics” of ZANU PF, the ruling party.

In one instance, the Finance Minister and the ruling party’s candidate for Cowdray Park Bulawayo, Mthuli Ncube had to leave his polling station because there were no ballot papers to vote.

Open Parly ZW also observed irregularities including lack of ballot papers for some national assembly elections and councilor elections with the EC providing only presidential ballot papers.

Majority of the irregularities and absence of ballot papers have been witnessed in urban centres including the capital Harare and Bulawayo which are believed to be strongholds of the opposition based on previous election results.

Nonetheless, Women in Politics Support Unit, a Harare-based organization has praised the participation of women so far. The organization reported a good number of women are showing up to vote and in some cases, more women are seen in voting queues than men.

Zimbabwe’s 2023 General Elections: All you need to know

Zimbabweans will be heading to the polls on the 23^rd of August 2023 to elect councilors, members of parliament, and a president who will steer the affairs of the country for the next five years. Despite Zimbabwe being a multi-party state, elections have often been reported to be unfair, unfree, and stained with corruption and dirty tricks. As the election day inches closer, the African Elections Project (AEP) puts together all you need to know in this article.

How will the elections work?

Aside from the presidential race, the country will also be choosing 210 members of the National Assembly. Voting is expected to take place on the 23^rd of August 2023 although some service personnel such as security officers on duty will be made to cast their ballot before voting day.

Diplomats currently not in the country will be able to vote by post but Zimbabweans living abroad would not be able to vote. However, most citizens would be eligible to vote and are expected to register using the biometric registration system.

The Senate, National Assembly, and Provincial Councils seats will be assigned based on proportional representation.

If a presidential candidate fails to surpass the 50% threshold there will be a run-off held on 2^nd October.

Who is contesting?

According to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, 12 candidates have been approved as being eligible to run for the presidency. However, two candidates stand tall in this vote. They are Incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa, from the governing Zanu-PF party, and opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, from the Citizen's Coalition for Change (CCC).

The other candidates are Saviour Kasukuwere - an Independent candidate ( whose candidature is being challenged in court at the time of publishing this article), Lovemore Madhuku of the  National Constitutional Assembly, Trust Chikohora standing on the ticket of the Zimbabwe Coalition for Peace and Development, Elisabeth Valerio of the United Zimbabwe Alliance Party,  Douglas Mwonzora of the Movement for Democratic Change Party,  Joseph Makamba Bush of the Free Zim congress,  Blessing Kasiyamhuru representing the  Zimbabwe Partnership,  Wilbert Mubaiwa of the National People's Congress leader,  Gwinyai Henry Muzorewa standing on the ticket of the United African National Council and Peter Harry Wilson of the Democratic Opposition Party.

Eligibility is dependent on several factors including the payment of $20,000, which has already disqualified several aspirants. Candidates are also expected to be registered as a voter and ordinarily reside in Zimbabwe for a given period of time.

 

What are the main issues?

In Zimbabwe, the rising cost of living continues to be a major concern for citizens. For instance, in the 12 months leading up to May this year, prices of goods and services rose by 86.5%, one of the highest annual inflation rates in the world. Additionally, businesses are struggling to cope with crippling power outages and an unstable local currency, which lost 86% of its value between January and early June. Moreover, corruption sits at the top of voters’ concerns.

 

Will the elections be free and fair?

Given Zimbabwe’s past elections, it would be difficult to assume that the next election would be declared free and fair by all stakeholders.

Previous elections were undeniably corrupt, violent, and rigged to favor Mugabe’s nearly 40-year reign. The 2018 election which was the first election after the former independence leader’s resignation, though less violent was still reported by several election monitors as having a blemished electoral roll, voter intimidation, a biased electoral commission, and ballot paper malpractice.

While Zimbabweans hope this election will be more free and fair than the previous ones, it might not go without controversies and disputes. Already, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has been accused of endorsing country demarcations without following the proper procedures. This has led to squabbling within the commission causing some officials to abdicate duty forcing the Chairperson (and deputy) to announce that they would be solely responsible for the commission’s communications.

Follow the African Elections Project on Twitter and Facebook for more updates @africanelection. 

2023: 9 key elections to watch in Africa

 

You may be right to call 2023 a “year of elections” because it promises to be a busy year for African politics as some in Africa prepare to hold their General Elections. The upcoming elections will include those of Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Liberia, Gabon, Madagascar, Democratic Republic of Congo, Libya, Sudan and Africa's biggest, happening in Nigeria.

Nigeria

The election train will first stop in Nigeria as former Lagos state governor Bola Tinubu, People's Democratic Party's Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi battle it out as frontrunners in the race to succeed President Buhari.

Nigeria's February general election promises to be an interesting one as it has raised a great deal of expectation among young voters who are eager to see the end of President Muhammadu Buhari's rule. Particularly due to the fact that, the country is currently grappling with economic downturn and heightened insecurity.

Sierra Leone

In June, Sierra Leone will hold its presidential and parliamentary elections. President Julius Maada Bio is expected to seek a second term. His Sierra Leone People's Party will be hoping to retain its majority in the national assembly, which has been threatened by rising discontent over the high cost of living.

Zimbabwe

The third stop of the election train will be in Zimbabwe where President Emmerson Mnangagwa will be hoping to overcome a new challenge by opposition leader Nelson Chamisa whose Citizens Coalition for Change outfit has sought to galvanize the opposition and to correct the mistakes of 2018.

Liberia

As though the twits and turns in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe won’t be enough, in October, Africa's oldest republic will hold its presidential and parliamentary polls in what will be a milestone for a country still recovering from years of civil war and a devastating epidemic. President George Weah has faced criticism for failing to tackle rampant corruption and for being away from the country to watch the World Cup in Qatar while the country faced an economic downturn.

Gabon

Meanwhile, President Ali Bongo looks set for re-election in Gabon after tacit endorsement by members of his Gabonese Democratic Party. Despite suffering a stroke which left him struggling to walk, the ruling party appears unwilling to retire its 63-year-old leader. The Bongo family has ruled over oil-rich Gabon since 1967.

Madagascar

In November, citizens in Madagascar will put their democratic system of governance to test. 48-year-old President Andry Rajoelina is vying for his second consecutive 5-year term in office. Rajoelina will be competing against Ravalomanana and Hery Rajaonarimampianina, Madagascar’s President from 2014 to 2018. The two opposition figures are expected to form a united platform in the effort to improve their prospects of defeating Rajoelina. The extent to which they can mount a coordinated campaign will determine how seriously they can challenge the incumbent.

Regardless of which candidate emerges victorious from Madagascar’s election, strengthening the mechanisms of popular participation, power sharing, and accountability enabled by institutions like an independent legislature, judiciary, and media will be the real priority of Madagascar’s democratic development.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Similarly, in December, the Democratic Republic of Congo will hold a general election to choose a new president, national assembly and senate. In power since 2019, President Felix Tshisekedi is expected to seek a second term. Having fallen out with his predecessor whose support secured the presidency for him, Tshisekedi will have to find new allies to face an opposition which has long been doing its preps. Moise Katumbi has already declared intent to run. With the east of the country embroiled in conflict, Tshisekedi might struggle to convince the Congolese he's the change they seek.