Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson Justice Priscilla Makanyara Chigumba narrowly escaped serious injury after her vehicle was struck by a haulage tanker on Sunday, 01 September.
Ndavaningi Mangwana, the permanent secretary for the Ministry of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, confirmed the incident.
The incident occurred on the Chirundu-Harare highway as she returned from Chinhoyi.
Mangwana said Chigumba was travelling from Chinhoyi when the haulage tanker collided with three vehicles, including hers.
Fortunately, there were no fatalities from the accident, and Chigumba emerged unharmed. Wrote Mangwana on X:
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Yesterday, ZEC Chairperson, Justice Chigumba was involved in an accident on her way from Chinhoyi when a haulage tanker crashed into three vehicles including hers. There were no fatalities from the accident and Justice Chigumba was not injured.
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More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba was in a car crash, but she is okay. A big truck hit her car while she was coming back from Chinhoyi. Luckily, nobody died, and Chigumba was not hurt. The government confirmed the accident. Everyone was relieved that Chigumba was safe after the scary crash.

ZEC Chairperson Priscilla Chigumba Escapes Injury In Horror Crash

Prominent lawyer and advocate Thabani Mpofu has written a letter to the Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), Justice Priscilla Chigumba, challenging her to publicly refute the claims made by Lieutenant General Anselem Nhamo Sanyatwe regarding the military’s ability to impose “command voting.”
Last month, the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA) commander, Lt. General Sanyatwe, was quoted as stating that the army will employ “command voting” in elections and that the ruling ZANU PF party would “rule forever.”
In a letter dated July 12, 2024, Mpofu demanded that Chigumba issue a firm public statement refuting Sanyatwe’s claims and providing assurances that ZEC is not beholden to or influenced by the army’s directives.
Mpofu has given Chigumba a seven-day deadline to address Lt. General Sanyatwe’s assertions about the military’s ability to manipulate the electoral process to ensure ZANU PF’s perpetual rule in Zimbabwe. Wrote Mpofu:
<blockquote>
I am writing to bring to your attention concerning remarks made by General Sanyatwe, the Commander of the Zimbabwe National Army about elections in Zimbabwe. I have in my possession videographic evidence of him uttering words to the following effect:
“… Zanu (PF) shall rule until donkeys grow horns, whatever your stated and expressed wishes. I am now speaking as the Commander of the Army. We shall use what is called Command Voting. . . Do we understand each other?”
In these remarks, General Sanyatwe not only wades into issues beyond his constitutional remit but also asserts, his as well as the army’s preparedness to undermine the vote and not respect its sanctity. Your Commission’s ability to deliver a credible election has been put in issue by remarks that suggest its complicity in undermining the popular will.
I wonder whether there is any truth to the sting of General Sanyatwe’s assertion.
If you consider this assertion false, I kindly request that you publicly refute it with a firm assurance that your commission is not on the army’s back and call.
If you choose reticence, I kindly request that you account for it, the statement considered. General Sanyatwe’s statement undermines the trust and confidence of the electorate in the electoral process. This as you are aware, has been no small issue.
A clear and prompt refutation of this assertion will help to maintain the integrity of the electoral process and reassure the public that the Electoral Commission is committed to upholding the sanctity of the vote.
Your attention is drawn to sections 155(1), 156(c)(i), 233 and 239 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, 2013 and to the obligations that have been triggered by this tainted tale.
The failure to call out this constitutional delinquency most indubitably has consequences.
I would appreciate your attention to this grave matter within 7 days.
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On July 3, 2024, Mpofu wrote to Sanyatwe demanding an unequivocal withdrawal of his previous remarks regarding the military’s ability to employ “command voting” to ensure ZANU PF’s perpetual rule.
Mpofu stated that Sanyatwe’s comments violated Zimbabwe’s national constitution, the Defence Act, and the Electoral Act, and he gave the military leader a seven-day deadline to retract his claims.
Today, Mpofu has reiterated his demand, clarifying that he is giving Sanyatwe a full seven days, excluding weekends, to publicly retract his statements.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Lawyer Thabani Mpofu is challenging ZEC Chairperson, Justice Priscilla Chigumba, to say that the military can't control voting. A general said the army would use "command voting" to keep the ruling party in power. Mpofu wants Chigumba to deny this claim. He also asked the general to take back his words. Mpofu thinks these statements break the laws. He gave them both a week to correct their words. Mpofu wants to make sure voting is fair and honest.

Lawyer Thabani Mpofu Calls On ZEC Chairperson To Refute General Sanyatwe's "Command Voting" Remarks

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has declared Russia’s three-day (March 15-17) presidential elections, as free, fair, and credible.
The Zimbabwe Election Observer Mission to the 2024 Presidential Elections of the Russian Federation was led by ZEC chairperson Justice Priscilla Makanyara Chigumba.
There were four presidential candidates, namely Vladislav Davankov (40) of the New People Party, the incumbent Vladimir Putin (71) who stood as an Independent candidate, Leonid Slutsky (56) of the Liberal Democratic Party, and Nikolay Kharitonov (75) of the Communist Party.
Presenting the Zimbabwe Election Observation Mission’s report on the elections in the Russian capital Moscow on Monday, March 18, Chigumba said that the Mission was satisfied with the conduct of the local media as far as reporting of elections is concerned. She added:
<blockquote>
Apart from reports by some external media organisations, there is evidence of objective reporting of the activities by the local media that was observed.
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Chigumba commended the Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) for the extended period of voting from a day in previous elections to three days in this election, saying it allowed voters to exercise their right to vote at their convenience.
She also said the general atmosphere was very conducive for elections, the mood was relaxed and cheerful as people were exercising their right to vote. Said Chigumba:
<blockquote>
This is a clear sign of a mature democracy in which elections are not perceived as a life-and-death activity…
The Mission also commends the CEC for managing the election efficiently and professionally. Therefore, we declare the election free, fair and credible.
</blockquote>
Putin secured a resounding victory, obtaining 88.48% of the popular vote. Officials said turnout was greater than 74% in the election.
ZEC’s decision to send a delegation to observe Russia’s presidential elections has sparked debates over integrity and credibility.
Critics question the impartiality of ZEC’s observations, given allegations of rigging in Zimbabwe’s elections.
The move has raised scepticism both domestically and internationally, as ZEC faces its credibility crisis at home.
<a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Zimbabwe-Election-Observer-Mission-Report-on-the-Russian-Federation-Presidential-Election-15-17-March-2024.pdf">Click this link to download the Zimbabwe Election Observer Mission Report on the Russian Federation Presidential Election 15-17 March 2024.</a>
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZEC Declares Russia's Presidential Election Free, Fair And Credible

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) says it will not comment on the request for the electronic voters roll until the courts have made a ruling on the matter.
Following Team Pachedu’s accusations of manipulation, civic society organisations, as well as political parties, <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/delimitation-process-election-watchdog-bemoans-inaccessibility-of-the-voters-roll/">have requested access to the computerized voters’ roll.</a>
However, in a Twitter post, the commission said:
<blockquote>
The issue concerning availing the electronic voters roll to those who request it is before the courts or sub-judice hence the commission will not comment on that matter until there is a court determination’
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The <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/The_Election_Resource_Centre">Election Resource Centre (ERC)</a>, a local watchdog, is among the organisations that tried in vain to get a copy of the voters’ roll. 
ERC said without the voters’ roll, it will be impossible to know if the boundaries created by the delimitation process have followed the law and if indeed votes are equal.
In its defence, ZEC says it is protecting people’s personal information from being abused online.
According to election experts, access to voters’ rolls is important for the holding of credible, free, and fair elections as it enables stakeholders to verify the information.
ZEC <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/zec-demands-us187-000-from-watchdog-for-the-release-of-the-voters-roll/">demanded US$187 238 from ERC</a> for a hard copy of the voters’ roll.
The commission cited provisions of Statutory Instrument 145 of 2022 Electoral (Voter Registration) (Amendment) Regulations, 2022 (No.1), which imposes US$1 per page of the roll as the unit price.
However, ZEC spokeswoman commissioner Jasper Mangwana stated that a less expensive electronic format would be accessible “soon,” without providing any precise release dates. The statement was made in November 2022.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Voters' Roll: ZEC Says It Won't Comment On The Matter

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has closed the voters’ roll for the upcoming National Assembly and council elections, more than two months before polling takes place on March 26.
Addressing a press conference in Victoria Falls Thursday afternoon, chairperson Justice Priscila Chigumba said:
<blockquote>
The commission wishes to advise that the voters’ roll for the proclaimed National Assembly vacancies closed on the 8th of January 2022, two days after proclamation, while the voters’ roll in respect of the ward elections closed when the vacancies occurred as indicated in published ZEC notices.
</blockquote>
President Emmerson Mnangagwa recently proclaimed 28 constituency by-elections while ZEC also issued out a notice to 122 local authorities wards where polls will take place.
In both instances, a roadmap has been set and the Nomination Court will sit on January 26.
Justice Chigumba said voter registration for other subsequent elections is not closed as this is a continuous process at the 72 static permanent voter registration centres countrywide.
Chigumba said Zec suspended the mobile biometric voter registration exercise that had been slated for November 6, 2021, to allow prospective registrants to acquire national identity documents which are a requisite for the voter registration process.
General voter registration for 2023 harmonised elections continues while mobile voter registration exercise for the 2023 polls will be conducted in two phases between February 1 and February 28, 2022 and from April 11 to April 30, 2022.
More: <a href="https://www.newzimbabwe.com/zec-closes-voters-roll-more-than-two-months-before-by-elections/">NewZimbabwe.com</a>

ZEC Closes Voters' Roll Ahead Of March By-Elections

The chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), Justice Priscilla Chigumba, has defended the appointment of Utoile Silaigwana as the commission’s chief elections officer.
Silaigwana’s appointment was condemned by some analysts who claimed that the electoral body was being militarised.
Silaigwana was initially appointed to ZEC when he was still a serving member of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA). He presided over the disputed 2008 elections.
However, in a statement on Thursday, Justice Chigumba asserted that Silaigwana’s appointment is above board. She said:
<blockquote>Questions have been raised on the appointment procedures of the Zec Chief Elections Officer (CEO).
It should be noted that the appointment was done after interviews were conducted by the full commission which sat as an interview panel and vetted several applications before the appointment of the current CEO was effected.
For the record, the current CEO was appointed on merit as he is a qualified elections administrator with 17 years experience in that field.
He is a holder of a Master’s Degree in Elections Administration from an internationally recognised university as well as being an accredited facilitator for Building Resources in Democracy, Governance and Elections, a modular professional development programme on electoral processes.</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.chronicle.co.zw/chigumba-defends-zimbabwe-electoral-commission-ceos-appointment/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">The Chronicle</a>

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