The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) said that with effect from 20 February 2023, only three senior officials are allowed to speak on behalf of the elections management body.
The Chronicle reported that ZEC chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba, her deputy Rodney Kiwa and Chief Elections Officer Utoile Silaigwana will be solely responsible for ZEC’s communication affairs.
Chigumba said the appointment of the three spokespersons is in line with the Electoral Act. She said:
In terms of the Electoral Act and by the operation of law and virtue of conditions of oath of office and the ZEC Public Relations and Communication Policy, the following are the three officials statutorily designated to be the spokespersons of ZEC: a) Chairperson Honourable Justice P M Chigumba, b) Deputy chairperson Ambassador R Kiwa, c) Chief Elections Officer, Mr. U Silaigwana.
In light of the above, members of the public and electorate are hereby advised that with effect from 20 February 2023 the above-mentioned three people are exclusively spokespersons of ZEC.
Chigumba said ZEC will respond to all media queries within 72 hours of receipt.
Prior to the latest development, Jasper Mangwana was the ZEC spokesperson after taking over from Joyce Laetitia Kazembe on the 18th of March 2022.