The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has revealed that it faced more than 100 court challenges arising from the outcome of the nomination courts and the general elections held in August 2023. The electoral body said the lawsuits derailed its preparations and road map as it sought to attend to the court challenges and to meet proclaimed electoral timelines.
Zimbabwe held its harmonised elections on 23 and 24 August 2023 to elect the president, legislators and councillors. The main contenders for the presidential race were the incumbent Emmerson Mnangagwa from the ruling ZANU-PF party and the opposition leader Nelson Chamisa from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
The elections were marred by delays, logistical challenges, allegations of rigging and violence. The ZEC announced that Mnangagwa won the presidential election with 52.6% of the vote, while Chamisa got 44%. Chamisa rejected the results and filed a petition at the Constitutional Court, challenging the validity of the election and alleging electoral fraud. The court dismissed his petition and upheld Mnangagwa’s victory.
The ZEC said in its Zimbabwe 2023 harmonised election report that most of the court cases were filed by aspiring candidates, accusing the electoral body of various infractions. Some of the issues raised by the litigants included the rejection of nomination papers, the withdrawal of candidature, the printing and distribution of ballot papers, the conduct of the polling and counting processes, and the announcement of the results.
The ZEC said it faced an unprecedented number of court challenges, which impacted its operations and resources. It also said that the electoral act did not include time limits for the adjudication of pre-election applications filed at the nomination courts, which posed logistical challenges for the commission.
The ZEC recommended that there should be a pre-defined timeframe whereby all electoral court cases should be cleared to give authorities and the printer adequate time to print the ballots ahead of polling. It also recommended that there should be a specified timeframe where candidates should not be allowed to withdraw in order to have adequate printing time.
The ZEC said it was committed to conducting credible elections and referendums in Zimbabwe, and that it would continue to improve its systems and processes in line with the constitutional and legal framework. It also said it would engage with various stakeholders, including political parties, civil society, media and observers, to enhance transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
The ZEC’s report comes amid calls for electoral reforms and dialogue from various local and international actors, who have expressed concern over the state of democracy and human rights in Zimbabwe. The African Union, the Southern African Development Community, the European Union, the United States and the United Kingdom have urged the Zimbabwean government and the opposition to work together to address the political and economic challenges facing the country.
Source: Bulawayo24 News
