The Zimbabwe Electoral Support Network (ZESN) has called on Parliament to amend Section 129 (k) of the constitution, asserting that the power to recall should rest with the people, not political parties, to safeguard democracy.
Currently, the section dictates that a Member of Parliament’s seat becomes vacant if they cease to belong to their original political party, triggering concerns about its impact on democratic principles.
In their preliminary statement on the 9 December 2023 by-election, ZESN highlighted the issue of voter apathy, which they categorize as a form of protest against recalls.
“Recalls affect democratic essence and this has been evidenced by the decreasing numbers in voter turnout in by-elections held so far since the 2023 Harmonised Elections. Whereas Section 67 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe states that “every Zimbabwean has the right to vote,” there seems to be less uptake on exercising this constitutional right to elect leaders by eligible voters in Zimbabwe during by-elections,” said ZESN.
They said most of the voters who were turning up to vote were largely females.
“In Beitbridge West, at Mudzwiti Primary School, three people turned out to vote out of a total of 325 registered voters. Moray Primary School in Bulawayo South, 34 people turned out to vote out of a total 624 registered voters. ZESN expresses concern over voter apathy which can also be classified as voter protest due to recalls,” said ZESN.
They added that voter apathy dilutes the value of democracy.
“Furthermore, lack of intra-party democracy, processes and laws or rules governing the selection of leaders and candidates could also be attributed as one of the reasons which led to low turnout as it affects voters’ motivation and participation in electoral processes,” they said.
In proposing recommendations for future elections, ZESN called for an amendment to Section 129 (k) to transfer the power of recalls to the people rather than political parties. They also advocated for the registration and regulation of political parties to address recall-related concerns and urged parties to enhance intra-party democracy and engagement to boost voter motivation.
Additionally, ZESN emphasised the importance of ongoing support for voter education efforts and urged political parties to strengthen and amplify their engagement with voters to foster increased participation in electoral processes.
