The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) will embark on a massive voter education exercise to inform people about the pending by-elections on December 9, 2023.
Four Nomination Courts sat on November 7, 2023 in Bulawayo, Lupane, Gwanda and Harare for the selection of candidates to fill in the vacant constituency seats in Beitbridge West, Binga, Bulawayo South, Cowdray Park, Lobengula-Magwegwe Mpopoma-Mzilikazi, Nketa and Mabvuku-Tafara plus other council seats following the recalls of members of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) by self-proclaimed interim Secretary General, Sengezo Tshabangu.
In an interview after the National Assembly Nomination Court concluded at Tredgold Magistrates Court in Bulawayo on Tuesday, ZEC Chief Elections Officer (CEO) Utloile Silaigwana confirmed that ZEC would now conduct voter education to inform voters about candidates and what they should do during the electoral period leading up to voting.
“On the side of ZEC now we are going to do voter education. Now that we have the candidates going to design the ballot papers then come up with a voters’ roll and also put everything in place that is in accordance with the conduct of elections on December 9, 2023, as proclaimed by President Emmerson Mnangagwa,” he said.
“Yes the Nomination Court in Bulawayo and indeed in other provinces where the Nomination Courts were held closed after a very successful process at 4pm. This really now marks the official campaigning period by candidates who successfully lodged their papers.”
Silaigwana stated both political supporters and candidates had to act accordingly and peacefully as they went through with their campaigns.
“The way forward is we are now expecting the candidates to do their campaigning but want to emphasise this is a period where we want candidates to instil sober minds into their supporters so that we have a peaceful campaign and non-hatred speech. Supporters and candidates alike must also contribute towards the peaceful atmosphere that Zimbabwe has experienced since the last general elections,” claimed the ZEC official.
Silaigwana said funding for the by-elections was sorted as the government, who is their treasurer, had committed funds for the exercise.
“For funding for elections, our treasurer is the government who is always ready to fund us and has always funded us and never failed to fund us so we have no challenges there,” he said.
