Internal fissures appear to be widening at the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) following the announcement by its chairperson, Justice Priscilla Chigumba, of the removal of Commissioner Jasper Mangwana as the spokesperson.
Justice Chigumba, her deputy, Commissioner Rodney Kiwa, and Chief Elections Officer, Utloile Silaigwana, are the only three people authorised to speak on the commission’s behalf.
This announcement raises questions about the fate of Commissioner Mangwana, who was hired after Commissioner Joyce Laetitia Kazembe retired.
Mangwana’s appointment as spokesperson took effect on March 18, 2022, before Kazembe’s term of office expired, as ZEC stated that it was meant to ensure that there could be a “smooth handover-takeover process and enable the Commissioner to inherit this portfolio to draw good lessons on handling it while the outgoing Commissioner is still in service.”
Cracks within the commission were exposed when seven ZEC commissioners rejected the delimitation report and appeared to be spearheading the opposition against its adoption for the national elections to be held either in July or August.
The seven ZEC members had written to President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Parliament to express their dissatisfaction with the preliminary delimitation report, which had been presented to parliamentarians in January.
Justice Chigumba, the ZEC chairperson, stated in a press statement that from February 20, 2023, only three officials would speak on behalf of the commission.
“In terms of the Electoral Act and by operation of law and virtue of service, oath of office and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) Public Relations and Communications Policy of 2020, the following are the three officials statutorily designated to be spokespersons of ZEC:
Chairperson Honourable Justice P. M Chigumba, Deputy Chairperson Ambassador R. Kiwa and Chief Elections Officer U. Silaigwana,” read the statement.
“In light of the above members of the public and the electorate are hereby advised that with effect from February 20, 2023 the above-mentioned three people are the exclusive spokespersons of ZEC.”
Judge Chigumba also promised to answer any queries within three days of receiving the requests.
“The public is further advised that in terms of the ZEC Communications Policy, questions, queries and request for interviews should be directed to the:
Chief Elections Officer
Mahachi Quantam Building
Cnr J Moyo Ave and Kaguvi Street p O bag 7782
Causeway Harare
Email jmanyau@zec.org.zw
Phone 242770340
Mobile 0716800765
As chairperson of ZEC I undertake to respond to any query within 72 hours of its receipt,” she said.
