Peace, be still… as Zimbabwe decides

The sun has finally risen on August 23 and millions of voters across Zimbabwe head to the polls to decide who will lead them for the next five years.
It has been a long and anxious wait as the electorate went through the paces and patiently hung on for this glorious Autumn day.

The message that reverberates far and wide is that, “Peace begins with me, peace begins with you, peace begins with all of us,” as the late Vice President John Landa Nkomo always reiterated.

Elections make a fundamental contribution to democratic governance and enable voters to select leaders they will hold accountable for their performance in office.

They also serve as forums for the discussion of public issues and facilitate the expression of public opinion.
Elections provide political education for citizens and ensure the responsiveness of democratic governments to the will of the people.

Contesting for the top job in the land are President Mnangagwa of Zanu-PF, Mr Nelson Chamisa of Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), Ms Elisabeth Valerio of United Zimbabwe Alliance, Mr Joseph Makamba Busha of Free Zim Congress, Mr Trust Chikohora of Zimbabwe Coalition for Peace and Development (ZCPD), Mr Blessing Kasiyamhuru of Zimbabwe Partnership for Prosperity (ZIPP), Professor Lovemore Madhuku of National Constitutional Assembly (NCA), Mr Wilbert Mubaiwa of National People’s Congress (NPC), Mr Gwinyai Henry Muzorewa of the United African National Council (UANC) and Mr Harry Peter Wilson of the Democratic Official Party.

Mr Douglas Mwonzora of MDC-T pulled out of the race at the eleventh hour but the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has said his name will appear on the ballot as he failed to beat the stipulated time for putting such a notice.

Independent presidential hopeful Mr Saviour Kasukuwere had his nomination accepted by the Nomination Court, but this was challenged in an urgent civil case in the High Court resulting in him being disqualified from contesting the election on the grounds that he was no longer on the voters’ roll, an essential qualification.

He appealed to the Supreme Court which heard the appeal as a matter of urgency, but Mr Kasukuwere lost.
The High Court judgment endorsed by the Supreme Court was based on a factual finding after all evidence was led that Mr Kasukuwere had been out of Zimbabwe for more than 18 months, without a brief return that could be as little as say just a night and would restart the clock.

Political parties have had a fair chance to canvas for votes from the electorate, manifestos have been shared and rally after rally has been held to engrain the parties’ messages among voters who have the mandate to decide.

According to ZEC, there are 6 623 511 registered voters with Bulawayo having 287 720 voters while Matabeleland North has 371 587.
Matabeleland South has 300 763 registered voters while Midlands has 840 961 people who are eligible to vote.

A total of 12 374 polling stations have been established in the country’s 10 provinces.
ZEC has warned that wearing party regalia, sloganeering, using political or candidate-branded vehicles and distributing leaflets or pamphlets on behalf of a candidate or political party is prohibited within a 300-metre radius of a polling station on Election Day.

Public singing, dancing and the use of bands, music, or loudspeakers as well as the use of cameras or phones is also prohibited.
Speaking during a media briefing in Harare last week, ZEC chairperson, Justice Priscilla Chigumba said as of August 14, a total of 3 572 local observers, 136 foreign observers, 376 local journalists and 15 foreign journalists had been accredited.

Besides the presidential election, Zimbabweans will also elect local council representatives and members of parliament.
Since the 2013 Constitution, the National Assembly, the lower house of Zimbabwe’s parliament, comprises 270 members. Of those, 210 representatives are elected through single-member constituencies. The remaining 60 seats are specifically designated for women and are allocated using proportional representation across 10 constituencies, each containing six seats. This proportional representation was based on the geographical divisions of the country’s provinces.

Each voter casts a single ballot, a decisive factor in the distribution of seats to the respective parties for both categories of seats. The Senate has 80 members.

For a presidential candidate to be declared winner, he or she must receive more than 50 percent of the vote.
If no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, a runoff election is held between the two candidates with the highest number of votes.
By law, the runoff should typically be held within 28 to 42 days after the initial election.

According to Zimbabwe’s Electoral Act, results for any of the elections should be announced within five days from the close of polling.
If a presidential candidate is unhappy with an election outcome, they can seek legal recourse by appealing to the Constitutional Court of Zimbabwe. The candidate or their representatives can approach the court within seven days after election results are announced and after exhausting all available legal remedies to address their grievances.

The court will then hear and determine the election dispute, and its decision will be final and binding. According to the Electoral Act, any election challenge or petition must be lodged within seven days after the announcement of the election results.

The Constitutional Court then has a maximum of 14 days to hear and determine the matter.
Meanwhile, the Government has declared zero tolerance for electoral violence while asserting that the law will be enforced against perpetrators.
Police must maintain the highest degree of vigilance to guarantee maintenance of law and order as well as the protection of life and property before, during and after the forthcoming harmonised general elections, President Mnangagwa said.

“Violence, divisive tendencies and nefarious machinations are unacceptable and alien to our country’s politics. My Government will never allow the present peace, unity and stability in our country to be tainted for the political expediency of a few rogue pseudo politicians.

“The Zimbabwe Republic Police must, thus, assume the highest degree of vigilance to guarantee maintenance of law and order as well as the protection of life and property, before, during and after elections. I exhort you, the men and women in our police force, to be watchful, pro-active and bring all perpetrators of politically motivated crimes to book, without fear or favour.

“Meanwhile, I want to commend our people, throughout the country, for showing a high level of political maturity since the proclamation of the election date.

“Let us all continue with this culture of peace, unity and oneness as we demonstrate that our country is now a mature democracy.
“The atmosphere that has characterised all political activities to date, is applauded. Going forward, I call upon the citizenry to say no to violence in all its forms. Let us all cultivate, nurture and preach peace, unity, political tolerance, love and harmony,” said President Mnangagwa.

While the country has generally been peaceful, incidents of politically-related violence were recorded in Shurugwi in the Midlands province and another in Harare.

Police have however said they are on top of the situation and it is therefore the hope of every Zimbabwean that peace prevails today, tomorrow and in the weeks to come.
May the best man (or woman) win! — @Yolisswa