THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has with immediate
effect lifted the suspension of electoral activities paving way for holding of
by-elections
In June, Zec suspended electoral activities as part of
measures to curb the spread of Covid-19.
The commission recently announced that there were 15
vacancies in Parliament that needed to be filled following National Assembly
and Senate recalls by the MDC-T.
Some Parliamentarians have also died and should be replaced
through holding of by-elections.
In a statement Zec chairperson, Justice Priscilla Chigumba
said the lifting of the suspension on electoral activities is in line with the
Covid-19 policy that has been adopted by the commission.
“The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission would like to inform the
public that it has lifted with immediate effect the suspension of electoral
activities following measures taken by Government to curb the spread of the Covid-19
pandemic. Electoral timelines for all the pending by-elections will be
published in the press through notices in due course,” said Justice Chigumba
“The lifting follows a cautionary observation of the pandemic’s trends and
subsequent adoption of health safety measures including the drafting and
operationalisation of a Covid-19 policy on electoral activities by the
commission whose contents were open to stakeholders’ contribution. The Covid-19
policy on electoral activities which outlines how by-elections and other
electoral activities will be conducted without exposing those involved to
health risks is now on the Zec website www.zec.org.zw for the public.”
In the health policy, members of the public will be allowed
to bring their pens when coming to cast their votes. Zec also states that it
will disinfect electoral materials such as pens for those who will use its
materials.
Mandatory temperature tests, wearing of masks and
sanitisation of hands will be required for all people entering the Zec premises.
“The commission is appealing to stakeholders to strictly
adhere to the policy in order to curb the spread of the Covid-19 disease which
is still highly contagious,” said Justice Chigumba.
Zec chief elections officer Mr Utoile Silaigwana said there
are 16 vacancies in both the Senate and National Assembly following deaths and
expulsion of legislators.
He said the mentioned vacancies are for they had been
notified about by Parliament and Ministry of Local Government and Public Works.
“At the moment we have received notification of seven
vacancies in the National Assembly of which six are through expulsion by their
party and one through death. The death is that of Kwekwe’s Masango
Matambanadzo. In the Senate there are nine vacancies and in local authorities
we have 23 vacancies which have occurred through expulsions and deaths,” said
Mr Silaigwana.
He said the public should take note that some vacancies
will not be filled through by-elections as individual parties will replace them
in the case of Proportional Representation MPs and Senators.
Zanu-PF acting national spokesperson Cde Patrick Chinamasa,
said the ruling party will contest all the seats and is confident of victory.
“We will contest all vacancies in the by-elections with the
aim of winning them to Zanu-PF whether they are through recalls because of
problems in the MDC-T or through deaths. We will contest with a view of winning
them and I know we will win them,” said Cde Chinamasa.
MDC-T Secretary general Mr Douglas Mwonzora said his party
has expelled more than 10 Parliamentarians but did not have the exact number.
“Of course, we are going to be contesting elections. We
were formed to be contesting elections. We recalled people on the basis that
they had ceased to be members of our party and for no other reason. Those
people are free to contest, face the electorate and seek the votes of the
electorate. We will also field candidates. What we have seen on social media is
that people have been writing us off, they must not write us off yet,” said Mr
Mwonzora.
MDC- Alliance deputy national spokesperson Mr Felix Mafa
Sibanda said there was nothing to celebrate in the lifting of the freeze on
electoral activities.
“The by-elections will be meaningless. They will not change
anything as long as there are no reforms. Instead of holding by-elections,
funds should be channelled towards improving people’s welfare,” said Mr
Sibanda. Chronicle
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