Former CCC leader Nelson Chamisa has commended South Africa’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) for its professional and accountable approach in the 29 May 2024 National and Provincial elections, contrasting it with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)’s alleged inefficiencies and lack of transparency.
Speaking at the funeral wake of opposition stalwart, CCC senator and former MDC Harare Central MP, Murisi Zwizwai, Chamisa accused ZEC of being “incompetent and biased” and called for its disbandment, reported <a href="https://nehandaradio.com/2024/06/04/chamisa-hails-south-africas-elections-as-exemplary-calls-for-zec-disbandment/">Nehanda Radio</a>. Said Chamisa:
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I must say that there are lessons to be learnt, the key lesson being that institutions that are independent and professional are important for the stability and progress of nations.
If you look at the conduct of the Independent Electoral Commission, it has been exemplary, professional, integrity, and of course accountability.
There are a lot of challenges when you have such a process, but if you look at it, they were able to answer those concerns. If you compare that with ZEC, you give them your complaints, they don’t answer.
What is clear from South Africa is that ZEC must be disbanded and be disbanded urgently; there can never be a proper election with ZEC in this country.
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Chamisa also praised South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and his governing ANC party for accepting the election results despite taking only 40% of the vote. He said:
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The ANC, I’m sure they have respected the outcome; that’s how we should behave, that’s being exemplary. I want to thank President (Cyril) Ramaphosa and the ANC for giving democracy a chance and for accepting what the people want.
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Chamisa reiterated his call for SADC to intervene in Zimbabwe’s disputed 2023 general elections which failed to meet regional and international standards. He said:
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We hope that SADC will play a prominent role in adjudicating the dispute in Zimbabwe because we have not agreed on the issue of the election.
In fact, it’s not about our agreement; the people of Zimbabwe know that the election was not conclusive in terms of choosing the leader who should be governing this country, hopefully, that issue is going to be resolved.
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Zwizwai reportedly complained of flu before he died in a Harare hospital early Saturday. He was 54.
Zwizwai was one of the first MPs of the Movement for Democratic Change elected in a by-election in 2003 before leaving the party in 2022 when the CCC was formed.
He was the Media, Information and Publicity Deputy Minister during the Government of National Unity (2009-13).
Zwizwai was among five CCC candidates appointed to the Senate in April by Sengezo Tshabangu.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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Chamisa Praises South Africa’s Electoral Commission, Calls For ZEC Disbandment

Opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) Senator, Murisi Zwizwai, has died.
The former Harare Central MP was a long-serving opposition legislator.
Zwizwai’s death was confirmed by former CCC Change Champion in Chief, Nelson Chamisa, who said the veteran politician died on Saturday morning. Chamisa posted on X:
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Have learnt with deep sadness on the passing of Hon Murisi Zwizwai in the early hours of this morning. We worked together from the early days of the struggle for change and freedom in Zimbabwe. He was affable, jocular, generous and jovial. My prayers are with the family and friends. RIP Murambwi.
</blockquote>
Zwizwai was among five CCC candidates appointed to the Senate in April by Sengezo Tshabangu, who claims to be the party’s interim secretary general.
During the Government of National Unity (2009-13) Zwizwai was the Media, Information and Publicity Deputy Minister.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

CCC Senator Murisi Zwizwai Has Died

The opposition CCC has nominated five candidates to fill the vacancies in the Senate that arose following the recall of five of the party’s senators by Sengezo Tshabangu, who claims to be CCC’s interim secretary general.
They include former Harare Central MP, Murisi Zwizwai, a long-serving opposition legislator.
The names of the nominees were announced this Friday, 12 April 2024 by Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson Priscilla Makanyara Chigumba in General Notice 460 of 2024. She said:
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The public is hereby notified, in terms of 39(6) of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13], that the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party has nominated registered voters specified in the First Schedule, to fill the vacancies in the Senate that occurred following the recall of persons specified in the Second Schedule, who were members of the Senate for the provinces opposite their names by virtue of section 120(1)(a) of the Constitution.
Any voter wishing to object to the nomination of each of the persons specified in the First Schedule, may lodge them in writing with the Chief Elections Officer, Mahachi Quantum Building, corner Kaguvi Street and Jason Moyo Avenue, Harare, or post them to Private Bag 7782, Causeway, within a period of 14 days from the date of publication of this notice, setting forth the reasons for the objection.
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Those specified in the First Schedule are Zwizwai, Tambudzai Kunaka, and Moses Manyengavana, all of Harare Province, and Spiwe Munemo and Tawanda Bvumo, both of Mashonaland West Province.
While the origin of the five candidates’ nominations remains uncertain due to CCC’s factional divisions, it is logical to assume that Tshabangu submitted their names to ZEC as he is the only CCC member who has the authority to recall Members of Parliament who is recognised by State institutions.
Former CCC senators, specified in the Second Schedule were recalled by Tshabangu last year. They are Vongai Tome, Webster Maondera, and Jameson Timba, all from Harare Province, and Editor Eremenziah Matamisa and Ralph T. Mangunje, both from Mashonaland West Province.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

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