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Opposition political parties in Zimbabwe have welcomed a proposal from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to require all political parties to be legally registered through an amendment to the Electoral Act.
Under the current law, political parties only need to inform the ZEC of their existence without going through a formal registration process.
In an interview this week, ZEC Chief Elections Officer Utloile Silaigwana said the registration of political parties was one of the recommendations made during the recently concluded annual conference. Said Silaigwana (via <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200033111/zec-pushes-for-political-party-registration">NewsDay</a>):
<blockquote>
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission would like to express its gratitude to stakeholders for the successful conduct of the post-2023 harmonised elections review conference in Nyanga recently.
The goal of the conference was to reflect on the 2023 harmonised elections in order to adequately prepare for the 2028 electoral cycle. The overarching guiding questions at the conference interrogated what worked well and what did not.
The conference came up with recommendations to improve the legal framework governing the country’s elections and the administrative framework.
It is hoped that these recommendations, including the one that seeks the registration and regulation of political parties become part of the electoral law.
</blockquote>
Promise Mkwananzi, the spokesperson for one of the three factions of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), said the registration of parties would assist in resolving disputes regarding the leadership of political parties. He said:
<blockquote>
We await the proposed modalities. What we want is an enabling environment for multiparty democracy and an end to stealing [Nelson] Chamisa’s parties by ZANU PF stooges and mercenaries.
All MPs and councillors elected through Chamisa’s ticket must be answerable to Chamisa’s party and the political finance due to him and his party must be duly disbursed to him and his party.
If the registration achieves this end and removes any chance for the masquerades, then it will be desirable. 
What we do not want is a registration process that seeks to stifle rather than facilitate multipartysm, that gives political parties the latitude to define their own internal democracy and systems not prescribe for them or seek to impose or influence who their leaders will be and how they should lead.
</blockquote>
Lloyd Damba, the spokesperson for Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) president Douglas Mwonzora, said there is nothing objectionable about the registration of political parties. He said:
<blockquote>
In other countries within Africa, we have similar laws that require the registration of political parties, in particular Kenya. They have their reasons for that and I do not see anything wrong with that particular move.
It becomes sinister when a body that is not mandated by any law to advocate for the registration of political parties when its duties are clearly stipulated in the Constitution [sic].
They want politics to be a game of the rich in particular those that are looting mineral resources and tenderprenuers.
</blockquote>
Meanwhile, Silaigwana urged Zimbabweans to move past the 2023 harmonised elections and concentrate on the upcoming 2024-28 electoral cycle.
He said those with grievances should seek resolution through appropriate channels, such as Parliament and the courts, while the commission maintains its right to address any serious allegations made against it.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Opposition parties in Zimbabwe are happy about a new rule that says all political parties need to be officially registered. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission made this proposal after a conference to discuss how to improve elections. Some parties are excited about this because it will help prevent disputes over leadership and party money. Others think it's a good idea because many other countries have similar rules. Now, the focus is on preparing for future elections and resolving any issues properly. If anyone has concerns, they should use the right channels to resolve them.

Opposition Endorses ZEC's Proposal For Party Registration

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has refused to withdraw nomination papers from candidates endorsed by Sengezo Tshabangu’s CCC party, despite opposition leader Nelson Chamisa’s request. Chamisa had written to the election commission, asserting that Tshabangu’s candidates should not use his face as party symbols. However, ZEC Chief Elections Officer Utloile Silaigwana firmly stated that the electoral body would not take instructions from the CCC leader. Silaigwana further emphasised that the opposition outfit should address its internal squabbles rather than involving the commission. He said:
<blockquote>
If CCC has internal issues, they know where to go, they don’t come to us and give us directives. Otherwise, every other party will tell ZEC what to do and it will do so.
Can you imagine a situation where ZEC acts after it is told what to do by every political party, it means ZEC will be taking sides.
ZEC is independent and does not take sides. The perception that ZEC should solve internal issues of a political party should stop.
</blockquote>
Nelson Chamisa, the president of the Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) political party, had written to ZEC through his lawyers, Shava Law Chambers, stating that some candidates were misusing his image and, therefore, were supposed to stop. He stated that he had authorised the CCC party only to use his image in the August 2023 elections.
Sengezo Tshabangu, who claims to be the interim Secretary General of the CCC party, has stated that Nelson Chamisa’s image belongs to the party and is a symbol of the party. According to Tshabangu, Chamisa is no longer allowed to use it outside of the party. This has led to a situation where there may be two candidates from the CCC party in certain constituencies during the upcoming by-elections in February 2024. Both Tshabangu and Chamisa had their own candidates, but they all used the name CCC. The matter may need to be resolved by the courts if some candidates are not disqualified.
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

ZEC Tells Chamisa They Won't Withdraw CCC Candidates Endorsed By Tshabangu

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has denied claims by some civil servants who worked as election officers during the 23 August 2023 Harmonised Elections that are still owed money for services rendered to the Commission.
During elections, ZEC hires officials from the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education including other government agencies.
The affected civil servants spoke to <a href="https://cite.org.zw/civil-servants-claim-zec-owes-them-money-for-august-elections/">CITE</a> on condition of anonymity and claimed that ZEC only paid them 80 percent of what they were owed for their services. One of the concerned teachers said:
<blockquote>
Presiding officers received their remaining balance of US$360 when initially they were paid US$320.
We were told that only 20 percent is remaining, but to our surprise, the presiding officers received more than 20 percent so it is not clear how much we are supposed to be paid.
</blockquote>
Contacted for comment by CITE, ZEC Chief Elections Officer (CEO), Utloile Silaigwana queried why those officials who claim to have grievances chose to go to the media instead of visiting ZEC offices. Said Silaigwana:
<blockquote>
I am not aware because they did not come to me claiming they were not paid and second, we have clear channels of communication where we communicate.
How do I know these people are genuine? What if these people just want to tarnish the image of ZEC?
We normally engage people who are employed by the government and they know exactly that if they have issues they do not run to the press but inquire at our offices. Civil servants do not act like that.
We always communicate with civil servants every time and those who we hired know the amount they should be paid.
I cannot respond fully because I do not have enough information on who these people are.
By right, we have to know the station they were deployed in and their EC numbers so that we can check.
What if it’s someone from the streets who wants to tarnish ZEC’s image? How do I know?
</blockquote>
Silaigwana insisted that civil servants who were hired by ZEC for the 23 August general elections were paid for their services.
He said ZEC has official lines of communication with the Public Service Commission (PSC), adding that the same procedures used in the past will apply in hiring staff for the December 9 by-election.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

ZEC Denies Claims That Civil Servants Are Owed Money For August Elections

The <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Electoral_Commission/">Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)</a> has disowned a statement circulating on social media that claims the commission declared the elections held on August 23rd and 24th, 2023, as invalid and called for a new election without ZEC’s participation. The said statement was attributed to ZEC Chief Elections Officer, Utjoile Silaigwana. It read:
<blockquote>
We acknowledge the contents of the final SADC SEOM report on the recent elections in Zimbabwe. One of the key contents of the report section 12.3 (b). We admit to the violation of the Electoral Act that bars us (ZEC) from employing individuals closely related to senior government officials or that of senior ZANU PF leaders.
To that effect we also admit this compromised the ZEC institution as a whole and influenced the result of the elections.
We therefore declare the elections held on the 23rd and 24th of August 2023 null and void and call for a fresh election to be held without our (ZEC) involvement.
</blockquote>
ZEC said the statement must be dismissed with the contempt it deserves. Said the electoral body:
<blockquote>
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission would like to inform the public that the notice purportedly issued by the Chief Elections Officer circulating on social media declaring elections of the 23rd and 24th of August 2023 as null and void is FAKE! ZEC has issued no such statement and dismisses it with the contempt it deserves. The public is advised to disregard the said statement!
</blockquote>
 
<img alt="" class="wp-image-265095 aligncenter" decoding="async" height="391" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 458px) 100vw, 458px" src="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ZEC-FAKE-300x256.jpg" srcset="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ZEC-FAKE-300x256.jpg 300w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/ZEC-FAKE.jpg 520w" width="458"/>
 
The opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) is demanding fresh elections due to alleged irregularities in the previous harmonised elections held on August 23, 2023. The reported irregularities include ballot mix-ups, voter intimidation, biased state media, and the banning of opposition rallies. The CCC calls for independent bodies like SADC, the African Union, or the United Nations to oversee future elections, as they accuse the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of favouring the ruling ZANU PF party and manipulating results in their favour. However, ZANU PF maintains that elections will only take place in 2028.
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

ZEC Disowns Statement Which Declared August Elections Invalid And Called For Fresh Elections

The <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Electoral_Commission/">Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)</a> has announced that by-elections will be held in four wards across the country. These by-elections were necessitated by the deaths of some of the candidates in those wards before August 23, 2023, harmonised elections. In a statement seen by Pindula News, ZEC said the affected wards are Kusile RDC Ward 13, Nkayi RDC Ward 11, Vungu RDC Ward 14, and Zvimba RDC Ward 23.
ZEC Chief Elections Officer, Utloile Silaigwana said the Nomination Court will convene on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, to receive nominations for the vacant wards. If necessary, a poll will take place on Saturday, November 11, 2023. Read the statement:
<blockquote>
<h3>11 November 2023 By-elections</h3>
It is hereby notified that candidates in the following Wards died before the commencement of poll on 23 August 2023 and elections were terminated in terms of section 50 of the Electoral Act.
<ul style="list-style-type: circle;">
<li>Kusile RDC Ward 13</li>
<li>Nkayi RDC Ward 11</li>
<li>Vungu RDC Ward 14</li>
<li>Zvimba RDC Ward 23</li>
</ul>
It is further notified in terms of Section 121A of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13], that following the death of the incumbent councillor for Rural District Council Ward 24, a vacancy has arisen,
The Nomination Court for purposes of receiving nominations of candidates for election as councillors for the vacant wards shall sit on Tuesday 10 October 2023 commencing from 1000 hours to 1600 hours.
The nomination courts to receive nominations for the vacant wards shall sit at the offices of the respective local authorities.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Coromission fixes Saturday, 11 November 2023 as the day on which a poll shall take place if it becomes necessary in terms of Section 125(4) (b) of the Electoral Act.
</blockquote>
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) Announces By-Elections In Four Wards

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has issued strict guidelines for the upcoming elections. ZEC’s vice-chairman, Ambassador Rodney Kiwa, emphasised that all political campaigning must end by midnight on August 21, with legal consequences for any violations. August 22 is designated as a quiet day with no political campaigning allowed. Kiwa said:
<blockquote>
Any campaigning by any political party, candidates, or individuals should end on August 21 at midnight. August 22 should be a quiet day and no political campaigning is allowed. If any party campaigns they will be liable to the law, it’s in terms of the Electoral Act and they will be criminalised. Those who campaign will be bound to prosecution, as ZEC will see to that. Midnight on August 21 is the deadline.
</blockquote>
ZEC has also published a list of prohibited activities within a 300-meter radius of polling stations, including the ban on party regalia, slogans, political vehicles, leaflets, public performances, and the use of cameras or phones.
In a notice seen by Pindula News, the electoral body also said it is a punishable offence to refuse to leave a polling station when a Presiding Officer orders one to do so. Read the notice:
<blockquote>
<h3>REFUSAL TO LEAVE A POLLING STATION </h3>
It is an offence to refuse or fail to leave a polling station when lawfully required to do so by the Presiding Officer. Offenders are liable to a fine not exceeding level four or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months or to both such fine and such imprisonment. (Electoral Act – Chapter 2;13, Section 90).
</blockquote>
Regarding ballot printing, ZEC announced the following quantities produced for each election category:
<ul>
<li>Presidential Election: 7,126,600 ballot papers</li>
<li>National Assembly Elections: 7,098,750 ballot papers</li>
<li>Council Elections: 6,861,650 ballot papers</li>
</ul>
ZEC’s chief elections officer, Mr Utloile Silaigwana, explained the reasons for the variation in the number of ballot papers printed for each election category. He stated that for the National Assembly election, the passing of an independent candidate in the Gutu West National Assembly constituency led to a postponement. In the local authority election, elections won’t be held in 91 wards due to unopposed candidates and the unfortunate demise of four candidates. These elections will be conducted at a later date.
ZEC has also published a list of the 12,374 polling stations distributed as follows:
<ul>
<li>Bulawayo: 434</li>
<li>Harare: 1,559</li>
<li>Manicaland: 1,623</li>
<li>Mashonaland Central: 1,107</li>
<li>Mashonaland East: 1,420</li>
<li>Mashonaland West: 1,507</li>
<li>Masvingo: 1,416</li>
<li>Matabeleland North: 920</li>
<li>Matabeleland South: 721</li>
<li>Midlands: 1,667</li>
</ul>
ZEC Chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba confirmed that 6 623 511 people have been registered to vote in the elections. She also confirmed the following categories of participants in the elections:
<ul>
<li>Presidential Candidates: 11</li>
<li>National Assembly Candidates: 518</li>
<li>Independent Candidates: 64</li>
<li>Local Authority Candidates (sponsored by political parties): 4,648</li>
<li>Independent Local Authority Candidates: 266</li>
</ul>
Regarding the election of two Senators to represent persons with disabilities, ZEC Chief Elections Officer, Mr Utoile Silaigwana, provided the following information:
<ul>
<li>The Electoral College, consisting of specified associations and institutions, will convene on August 26.</li>
<li>The election will be conducted in accordance with section 120(1)(d) of the Constitution.</li>
<li>The specified associations and institutions are listed in Statutory Instrument 133 of 2023.</li>
<li>The Electoral College will gather at the Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare on Saturday, August 26, 2023, from 7 am to 7 pm to elect the Senators representing persons with disabilities.</li>
</ul>
Last month, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi, prescribed a list of 119 associations and institutions. These entities will nominate individuals who will compose the Electoral College responsible for filling the Senate seats for Senators elected to represent persons with disabilities. The list was formulated after consultations with Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister, Professor Paul Mavima.
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

ZEC Sets Strict Election Guidelines, Including An August 21 Campaign Deadline

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has denied allegations that the voters’ roll recently given to presidential and National Assembly Constituency candidates is not searchable and analysable. In a statement seen by Pindula News, the ZEC Chief Elections Officer, Mr Utloile Silaigwana, stated that the voters’ roll is searchable and analysable. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) would like to dismiss as false, allegations reported in some sections of the mainstream media that the voters’ roll recently given to presidential and National Assembly Constituency candidates is not searchable and analysable. 
The voters’ roll is searchable and analysable as per provision of Section 21(7)(1) of the Electoral Act[Chapter 2:13]. The provision permits the Commission to format the voters’ roll to prevent it from being altered or tampered with. It is for this reason why ZEC has issued out the voters’ roll in its current format. There is nowhere in the Act where it is stated that the roll should be in excel or printable formats known to have compromised security features.
 The voters’ roll issued out to candidates has columns for the voter’s surname, forename, ID number, gender, date of birth, voter’s address, polling station, ward, local authority, constituency, district and province as prescribed in Section 20(2) of the Electoral Act.
 Polling station codes have not been included on the voters’ roll, because they are an administrative tool used by the Commission to map out polling stations during delimitation hence they are not part of the voters’ roll as alleged. The electorate and other stakeholders should expect to see real names of polling stations and not codes on the voters’ rolls. 
Ordinary voters without access to the electronic voters’ roll are encouraged to dial the USSD Code *265# on their mobile phones to ascertain their registration status and respective polling stations. 
The Commission would like to urge all stakeholders with queries on the voters’ roll or any other electoral issue to approach the Commission for clarification. They should desist from casting aspersions on the voters’ roll and other electoral processes as this may affect voter turnout and discredit the polls.
</blockquote>
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

ZEC Denies Claims That The Voters' Roll Is Not Analysable

The Chief Elections Officer of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Utloile_Silaigwana/">Mr Utoile Silaigwana</a>, has said his family is being persecuted for executing his duties as a ZEC officer. He urged political players and opinion leaders to avoid fueling hate and division in the country, particularly during the harmonised elections. In an interview, Silaigwana stated that the electoral process comes and goes, with the nation reverting back to its development agenda, and there is no need to turn it into a war. He highlighted that ZEC officials were simply tasked with presiding over the process, as guided by legal provisions. He told The Sunday News:
<blockquote>
Our people forget that as an electoral officer I have rights that must be respected, my rights must not be infringed upon by anyone. Even the Constitution states that when you exercise your rights make sure that those rights do not infringe on another person’s rights. I have been attacked; my family has been attacked.
At one point I had my two daughters at some boarding school in Matabeleland South traumatised by teachers. I had to drive all the way from Harare to see the school head. I did not fight, I just asked to see the teachers and ask them why they were doing that.
Those are the things I am sometimes subjected to, as if I am not a citizen of this country with rights. I also had a situation where my family car was burnt when my child was inside. This is what I come across but people forget that if it was not me here managing the elections it was going to be someone else doing the same thing. What we are saying is why should we turn the election environment into a battlefield.
</blockquote>
Silaigwana also noted that it was essential for political players to prioritize the nation ahead of their personal interests, adding that elections should be contested within the confines of the law and in a way that agrees to disagree. He encouraged people to evaluate and analyze information they receive via social media and seek correct information from the institution mandated to run the election. Silaigwana further reiterated that the electoral process included every stakeholder, inclusive of the public, and all should work together to ensure the successful running of the elections.
Mr. Siliagwana defended the State’s funding of  ZEC, stating that every country in the world funds its election management body. He also refuted claims that elections must be run by non-citizens, highlighting that he has the right to vote and run elections. He emphasized the importance of doing his job independently and challenged people to show where ZEC was not independent. Additionally, he explained that ZEC’s primary stakeholder is the ordinary voter, and they design voter education material and the ballot paper without bias towards any political party.
<h3><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h3>

Zimbabwe's Chief Elections Officer Urges Against Hate As Family Faces Persecution

The <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Electoral_Commission/">Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)</a> has announced that the voters’ roll for the upcoming general elections will be available to election candidates at the end of June.
The chief elections officer of ZEC, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Utloile_Silaigwana/">Utloile Silaigwana</a>, made the announcement following the end of the mop-up voter registration exercise on Friday. However, the electoral body has faced criticism from opposition parties and independent election watchdogs for the opaque manner in which it has run the voter registration and verification exercise.
Many people found their names missing from the voters’ roll upon verifying via mobile phone platforms, and others discovered that their names were moved from the polling stations in which they registered. Some have viewed these glitches as part of structural vote rigging.
Silaigwana has assured the public that any anomalies observed during the voters’ roll inspection exercise will be rectified during the final compilation of the voters’ roll. He said:
<blockquote>
The Commission would like to assure members of the public that it will rectify any anomalies that were observed during the voters’ roll inspection exercise. This will be done during the final compilation of the voters’ roll.
</blockquote>
Despite this, there have been concerns about data protection and the risk of electoral fraud. In March, a court application challenging ZEC for access to the electronic voters’ roll was filed by the <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Citizens%27_Coalition_for_Change/">Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC)</a> legislator, <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Allan_Markham/">Allan Markham</a>, but the courts ruled against him, citing data protection risks. However, ZANU PF has allegedly sent text messages to registered voters urging them to vote for President Emmerson Mnangagwa, leading to allegations that the party has access to the voters’ roll.
<h2><a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

ZEC: Zimbabwe Voters' Roll Available To Candidates By End-June

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has advised prospective voters that some voters’ roll inspection centres may start operating much later than the anticipated time this Saturday.
In a statement issued this Saturday, ZEC Chief Elections Officer Utloile Silaigwana said the delays are a result of “logistical and other unforeseen challenges”.
He said ZEC may consider allowing voters in affected areas to inspect the voters’ roll on 01 June. Said Silaigwana:
<blockquote>
Owing to logistical and other unforeseen challenges, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission would like to inform members of the public that some voters’ roll inspection centres may start operating much later than the anticipated time on 27 May 2023.
The Commission may consider extending this exercise scheduled to end on 31 May 2023 by a day in affected areas.
</blockquote>
Speaking to <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200012012/no-voter-registration-at-inspection-centres-zec">NewsDay</a> on Wednesday, Silaigwana said voter registration is still ongoing at the usual centres. He said:
<blockquote>
Voter registration has not yet been closed. However, members of the public will not be able to register as voters at the polling stations.
They will be just inspecting the roll. Registration will be at the usual. There is no registration at all at the inspection centres.
We are extending our work. We are doing it for the benefit of the public, as an administrative matter.
We are doing like what we do with the voter registration blitz to bring the centres to the people.
It’s an administrative decision that we have taken to bring the centres to the people, otherwise, individuals can inspect the roll anytime, according to the law.
</blockquote>
Silaigwana said the voters’ roll will be closed for registration two days after President Emmerson Mnangagwa has proclaimed the election date.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Voters' Roll Inspection May Be Delayed At Some Centres - ZEC

The <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Electoral_Commission">Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)</a> has said the final nationwide mobile biometric voter registration will begin next Sunday as preparations for 2023 harmonised elections gather momentum.
The voter registration campaign will precede various other activities, including opening the voters’ roll for public inspection.
ZEC chief elections officer, Mr Utloile Silaigwana, said preparations for the harmonised elections had commenced. <a href="https://www.sundaymail.co.zw/final-mobile-voter-registration-begins-zec-tables-130bn-election-budget">The Sunday Mail</a> cites him as saying:
<blockquote>
The commission will undertake a nationwide mobile voter registration exercise from March 12 to 21, 2023, as it normally does before any general election.
The voter registration blitz will provide an opportunity for new registrants to register and for the existing registrants to apply for transfers.
Currently, trainings to equip voter educators, voter registration officers and their supervisors is underway in preparation for the blitz.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Preparing for elections is not different from preparing for any major electoral process.
It entails planning for both human and material resources, capacitation of officers, (and) mobilisation of resources.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
The commission is finalising the roadmap to the elections, which will be shared with stakeholders once the election date has been proclaimed by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
ZEC requires $128,6 billion for the elections.
Treasury has always honoured its obligation to fund the commission.
The programme will be multi-faceted and entail engaging various stakeholder groups, deployment of voter education officers, use of both print and electronic media and the use of the ZEC website and social media platforms.
</blockquote>
He also said the Constitution of the Multi-Party Liaison Committee will help with the resolution of all possible disputes during the election period.
Eligible voters will still be able to register until two days after the proclamation of the election date by President <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Emmerson_Mnangagwa">Emmerson Mnangagwa</a>.
According to ZEC’s preliminary 2023 elections roadmap, the polls management body is preparing for an extensive post-<a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/download-final-delimitation-report-govt-gazette-pdf/">delimitation</a> awareness programme to explain to the electorate the new electoral boundaries.
This process will lead to other routine electoral procedures such as accreditation of observers and the media, production of the voters’ roll, the constitution of the nomination court and establishment of the Multi-Party Liaison Committee.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

ZEC Says Final Voter Registration Starts On 12 March

The Zimbabwean government has reportedly given senior <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Central_Intelligence_Organisation_(CIO)">Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO)</a> directors US$350 000 housing loans each, according to <a href="https://thenewshawks.com/senior-cio-directors-given-us350-000-cash-windfall/">The News Hawks</a>.
An unnamed source was cited as saying that District Intelligence Officers will also be given backdated allowances. The source is quoted as saying:
<blockquote>
There is a windfall for CIO. Senior directors who are regarded as deputy ministerial level are getting US$350 000 as housing allowances. District Intelligence Officers and above will get ZW$3 000 000, while those below have been given ZW$1 000 000 backdated allowances.
Besides that, an internal confidential circular has been written, saying no one is resigning. The memo basically says even those who have reached retirement can stay on until further notice.
This is a desperate bid to stop officers from quitting as they have been doing due to poor conditions of service. It’s also about elections.
</blockquote>
The development comes barely months after reports that the cash-strapped government had given ministers US$500 000 and deputy ministers US$350 000 in housing allowances.
Members of Parliament were also allocated US$40 000 each in November last year, sparking a major outcry, especially against opposition MPs who were accused of joining the gravy train.
The loans totalled US$14 million for all 350 legislators.
Also late last year, the government began installing solar panels at the homes of more than 100 government officials, commissioners and service chiefs at the cost of US$14 000 per unit to cushion them from rolling nationwide power cuts lasting up to 18 hours.
Norton legislator, Temba Mliswa, said ministers’ loans were not budgeted for while MPs’ allowances were budgeted for. 
Besides the US$40 000, MPs also got US$50 000 for cars, instead of US$80 000 which means there is “a balance of US$30 000.”
Analysts believe the loans are a strategy by the ruling ZANU PF to influence the outcome of the national elections scheduled for this year.
For decades now, ZANU PF has been accused of using state security forces to retain power by intimidating the electorate or manipulating the electoral processes. 
The CIO and other security forces have agents in the whole electoral process, including at the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), where the secretariat is headed by Utloile Silaigwana a former army officer. He took over as chief elections officer from the late Lovemore Sekeramayi, a former top CIO officer.
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

Senior CIO Officers Get US$350 000 Housing Loans

The Zimbabwe Election Advocacy Trust (ZEAT) has said the <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Electoral_Commission">Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)</a> should employ impartial people to ensure free and fair elections.
In an interview with <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200005126/disband-current-zec-secretariat">NewsDay Weekender</a>, ZEAT executive director Ignatious Sadziwa said:
<blockquote>
<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Utloile_Silaigwana">Utloile Silaigwana</a>, who is the head of secretariat of the commission is a former army officer and a host of other members are either aligned to the CIO [Central Intelligence Organisation] or police, something that the Constitution does not allow. We advocate for the disbandment of both the commission and the secretariat and employ impartial civilians to manage elections as espoused in the Constitution.
The year 2022 has been a long tumultuous and contentious election year for next year’s general elections. We held by-elections under very difficult conditions amid contestations between ZEC, the civil society and political parties mainly the Citizens Coalitions for Change over a myriad of issues.
The issue of ballot paper printing which is shrouded in opaque and shadowy dealings, the unilateral appointment of compromised Zec officials without due diligence is another landmine which compromises the integrity of ZEC.
</blockquote>
Sadziwa also condemned the Electoral Amendment Bill as a ‘fraud’ to avoid implementing much-needed electoral reforms.
Election Resource Centre’s legal and advocacy officer Takunda Tsunga said ZEC must address politically-motivated violence and the partisan conduct of traditional leaders. 
ZEC spokesperson Jasper Mangwana said those were “just baseless allegations” as the Constitution does not bar former serving army officers from being employed by ZEC. He added:
<blockquote>
Even if there are former, they don’t report to those structures, they report directly to the commission. The commission is the ultimate authority in terms of who is to be employed.
</blockquote>
He added that the commission has no employee who is a serving member of any of the security organisations of the country. 
<h2><a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">More Pindula News</a></h2>

"ZEC Should Employ Impartial People To Ensure Free And Fair Elections" - Election Watchdog

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has announced the suspension of by-elections for wards 6, 8, 10, 15, and 23 of Binga Rural District Council scheduled for Saturday 03 December 2022.
In a statement on Friday, 02 December, ZEC chief elections officer Utloile Silaigwana said the High Court ordered the suspension of the by-elections after the nominations of five of the candidates were challenged in court. Reads the statement:
<blockquote>
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission would like to inform members of the public that the High Court has ordered the suspension of by-elections for wards 6, 8, 10, 15, and 23 of Binga Rural District Council scheduled for Saturday 03 December 2022.
This follows urgent chamber applications by Collen Mudenda who challenged the nominations of John Simunene Sikabotu, Kingson Mpofu, Mathias Mudenda, Joseph Mwembe, and Wilson Siampolomba on the grounds that they were disqualified from contesting as candidates in terms of Section 119(2) (h) of the Electoral Act.
The Section states that a person shall be disqualified from being nominated as a candidate on the nomination day or the day of an election when he or she is in default with the payment of any levy, rate, charge, or tax due and payable to the council concerned for more than 120 days.
The High Court ordered that the Commission should not proceed with the by-elections for the five wards pending the hearing of the cases which was postponed to 4 January 2023.
However, despite this High Court order, by-elections for ward 20 of Binga Rural District Council, wards 4, 5, and 18 of Gweru Municipality, and ward 28 of Mberengwa Rural District Council will go ahead tomorrow 3 December 2022 as scheduled.
</blockquote>

ZEC Announces Suspension Of Some Binga RDC By-elections

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) on Wednesday accused a group of data analysts, Team Pachedu, of trying to hack into its system “about 100 times” and destabilise the country’s election processes.
Appearing before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs for a post-budget consultation meeting, ZEC chief elections officer Utoile Silaigwana likened Team Pachedu’s alleged hacking attempts to attempted rape. Silaigwana said:
<blockquote>
The Pachedu group has not been able to break into our system, but they have made several attempts.
They have maliciously spread a lot of disinformation, misinformation and malformation about the commission, which then in the public eye looks like ZEC is highly, highly vulnerable and they have broken into, but they have not.
I think it is some kind of silly manoeuvres to try to destabilise ZEC. The purpose of the commission reporting them is that this is an attempt.
If someone attempts to rape, it is an offence, right? So they are attempting to rape ZEC and this is why we reported them.
There have been about 100 attempts to hack into our server, which hosts the voters’ roll, but they have never broken into it.
Our website system is separate from the system that hosts the voters’ roll.
</blockquote>
Team Pachedu says it has unearthed gross irregularities on the Voters’ Roll and has accused ZEC of attempting to rig the 2023 general elections.
Meanwhile, Silaigwana said the 2023 budget allocation for ZEC was 33% lower than the $151.2 billion it requested from Treasury. | <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200004366/team-pachedu-terrorists-zec">NewsDay</a>

Team Pachedu Attempting To Rape ZEC - Silaigwana

The <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Electoral_Commission">Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)</a> has announced local authorities’ by-elections venues and accreditation fees for observers. In a statement seen by Pindula News, ZEC Chief Elections Officer <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Utloile_Silaigwana">Utloile Silaigwana</a> said accreditation of successful candidates will be conducted from 29 August 2022 up to 03 September 2022. Reads the notice:
<blockquote>
<h2>LOCAL AUTHORITY BY-ELECTIONS ACCREDITATION VENUES </h2>
It is hereby notified for public information that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is establishing accreditation venues for the 03 September 2022 Bulilima RDC Ward 1, 14 and 16 Local Authority by-elections. The accreditation of successful applicants shall be conducted between 8 am and 4 pm at the following venues commencing on 29 August 2022 up to 03 September 2022. 
PROVINCE: Matabeleland South Province 
VENUE: Bulilima RDC Stand Number 220 Station Road, Plumtree.
<h2>ACCREDITATION FEES </h2>
• Local observers USD10 or ZWL equivalent at prevailing Bank rate. 
• Observers from the continent of Africa – USD100 
• Observers from foreign Embassies in Zimbabwe — USD300 
• Observers from any country outside Africa — USD400 
• Zimbabwean media practitioners accredited with the Zimbabwe Media Commission and working in Zimbabwe for foreign media houses —USD 100 
• Zimbabwean local media practitioners accredited with the Zimbabwe Media Commission — USD10 or ZWL equivalent at prevailing Bank rate. For further information please contact Mrs Matsanga on 0712 878 615, Mr Chidakuza on 0712 878 608 or email dchidakuza@zec.org.zw 
U. Silaigwana Chief Elections Officer 
ZIMBABWE ELECTORAL COMMISSION
</blockquote>
<h2><a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h2>

ZEC Announces By-elections Accreditation Venues And Fees

The <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Electoral_Commission">Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)</a> has announced intentions to remove from the voters’ roll 6 533 people who are presumed dead. The commission in a notice, seen by Pindula News, urged individuals who believe that the names listed in the notice were mistakenly entered to approach ZEC offices for correction. Reads the General Notice 1470 of 2022:
<blockquote>
<h2>ELECTORAL ACT (CHAPTER 2:131</h2>
<h2>Removal of Deceased Persons from Voters Roll</h2>
IT is hereby notified, in terms of section 33(4) read with section 27(I) of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:131, that voter registration officers have reason to believe that the persons whose names are listed in the First Schedule, and who were registered as voters for the constituencies, wards and polling stations listed therein have died. The names of those persons will be removed from the voters’ roll unless notice of appeal is given to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. 
By means of this notice, notification is made to any voter on the First Schedule who may be alive to lodge an objection At the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Mahachi Quantum, 1, Nelson Mandela Avenue, corner Kaguvi Street and Jason Moyo Avenue, Harare, and at the respective Commission Provincial Offices, to the inclusion of his or her name in the First Schedule using the form prescribed in the Second Schedule no later than seven days from the date of publication of this notice.
<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Utloile_Silaigwana">U. SILAIGWANA,</a> 
Chief Elections Officer,
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.
</blockquote>
<img alt="Image" class="aligncenter" decoding="async" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FXhzdeyWIAAIasS?format=jpg&amp;name=large"/>
<h2>Pindula News</h2>

ZEC Issues Notice To Remove 6 533 Dead People From The Voters' Roll

The government has gazetted the results of the 26 March by-elections. Mr Utloile Silaigwana, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) elections officer, said the names shown in the gazette are of individuals who were duly elected in the elections and have with effect from the 27th of March to represent respective constituencies. See attached below. 
Opposition Citizens Coalition for Change led by Nelson Chamisa won 19 National Assembly seats while the ruling ZANU PF won 9 of the 28 seats that were vacant. 
<blockquote>
<img class="" decoding="async" height="1626" loading="lazy" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FPVZ1BGXMAMqkIS?format=jpg&amp;name=large" width="948"/>
</blockquote>
An official gazette is the legal newspaper of a country which publishes the text of new laws, decrees, regulations, treaties, legal notices, and court decisions. 
The laws published in official gazettes are primary law in the official source; publication in the gazette, in many cases, initiates jurisdiction. 
The text published is the authoritative version, and commonly, the only published version.
<h2>More:<a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/"> Pindula News</a></h2>

Government Gazette 26 March By-elections Results

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has confirmed the names of nominated candidates representing the ruling ZANU PF, opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) and MDC Alliance for the 26 March by-elections.
This was announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)’s Chief Elections Office, Utloile Silaigwana. See below:
<blockquote>
<h2>ELECTION NOTICE Electoral Act ‘Chapter 2 13]</h2>
<h2>Local Authority By-elections 7 May 2022; Names of Nominated Candidates</h2>
IT is hereby notified, in terms of section 125(4) of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:131, that at the close of sitting of the nomination courts which sat on Wednesday 16 March 2022. the candidates listed in the Schedule were duly nominated for election as councillors in their respective wards. Accordingly. polling shall take place on Saturday, 7 May 2022, from 7.00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of electing councillors for the said wards.
<div class="row justify-content-center">
<table class="table table-bordered table-hover" id="table_1" style="width: 97.4777%; height: 274px;">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.24">District</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.46">Local Authority</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.5">Ward</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.66">Name of Candidate</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.65">Sex</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=96.07">Political Party</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=0"> </td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=0"> </td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=0"> </td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=99.38">Manhuhwa Brighton</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=98.78">M</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=98.38">ZANU PF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.59">Makoni</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.25">Rusape Town Council</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.37">5</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=98.72">Nyampigoti Munyaradzi</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=98.36">M</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=99.78">MDC Alliance</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=0"> </td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=0"> </td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=0"> </td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=99.66">Sithole Lyton</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=98.73">M</td>
<td style="text-align: center;" title="Character Accurarcy=99.05">CCC</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=0"> </td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=0"> </td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=0"> </td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.45">
 
 
Masenyama Patrick
</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99">
 
 
M
</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.93">
 
 
CCC
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.26">Mutare</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.52">Mutare Municipality</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.67">14</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.34">Moyo Wellington Jonah</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.63">M</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.64">ZANU PF</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=0"> </td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=0"> </td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=0"> </td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.12">Nyathi Njabulo</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=98.44">M</td>
<td title="Character Accurarcy=99.75">MDC Alliance</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote><figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-229037" class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_229037" style="width: 523px"><img alt="" class="wp-image-229037" decoding="async" height="509" loading="lazy" sizes="(max-width: 523px) 100vw, 523px" src="https://t792ae.c2.acecdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/ZEC-GAZ-300x292.jpg" srcset="https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/ZEC-GAZ-300x292.jpg 300w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/ZEC-GAZ-1024x997.jpg 1024w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/ZEC-GAZ-768x747.jpg 768w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/ZEC-GAZ-1536x1495.jpg 1536w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/ZEC-GAZ-1320x1285.jpg 1320w, https://news.pindula.co.zw/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/ZEC-GAZ.jpg 1938w" width="523"/><figcaption class="wp-caption-text" id="caption-attachment-229037">Exif_JPEG_420</figcaption></figure></blockquote>
<h2>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h2>

26 March By-elections: ZEC Confirms Candidates For Manicaland Province

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has printed 594 300 ballots for the forthcoming National Assembly and local authorities’ by-elections scheduled for March 26.
ZEC chief elections officer, Mr Utloile Silaigwana, made the announcement on Wednesday.
The ballots for the National Assembly were printed by Fidelity Printers and Refiners while those for local authorities were printed by Printflow. Mr Silaigwana said:
<blockquote>
A total of 870 550 National Assembly ballot paper and fifty 723 750 local authority ballot papers have been printed for the conduct of the by-elections.
</blockquote>
He added that a contingency of 6.99 per cent had been added to the ballots printed for the National Assembly by-elections while a 6.71 per cent contingency had been added to the ballots printed for local authority by-elections.
A total of 813 659 people were registered to vote for National Assembly elections while 678 260 were registered for local authorities’ by-elections.
The ballot papers were printed in books of 50 each.
There are 28 vacant National Assembly seats and 122 for local authorities.
The bulk of vacancies resulted from recalls of opposition MDC Alliance members by MDC-T and some who died or redeployed.
At least 16 political parties will contest the by-elections.
The ruling ZANU PF, Citizen Coalition for Change and MDC-Alliance, All People’s Party, Democratic Opposition Party, Federation of African State, Free Zimbabwe Congress, Labour, Economists and African Democrats, MA’AT Zimbabwe, Movement for Democratic Change Alliance, New Patriotic Front, Patriotic Zimbabweans, Republican Party of Zimbabwe, United Democratic Alliance, United Zimbabwe Alliance, Zimbabwe African People’s Union and Zimbabwe Labour Party, will contest in the elections.
More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/zec-prints-ballot-papers/">The Herald</a>

ZEC Has Printed Ballot Paper For 26 March By-elections

<a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/Zimbabwe_Electoral_Commission">The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC)</a> has dismissed reports saying the commission moved about 170 000 voters on the voters roll from their original constituency and wards in an endeavour to manipulate the outcome of elections. In a previous article published by Pindula News, Team Pachedu, an opposition political activism online group, said <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/2022/02/14/zec-accused-of-moving-170k-voters-from-their-original-constituencies/">a total of 170 867 addresses</a> that were in the 2018 voters roll have been edited by ZEC between 2018 and 2022. In response, ZEC said:
<blockquote>
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission would like to dismiss allegations of rigging purportedly exposed by an analysis of a national voters’ roll requested by a political party as pure malice bent on diminishing the public’s confidence on the voters’ roll and the country’s electoral processes. The so-called analyses being posted on social media platforms are clearly targeted at confusing the electorate and tarnishing the image of the Commission.
The Commission wishes to make it clear that any voters’ roll that is requested in terms ofsection21(3) of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) is a valid document as at the date of issue and is subject to subsequent addition of any new registrants or removal of voters because of death or disqualification. Please note that voter registration and the maintenance of the voters’ roll is a continuous process in terms of section 17A of the Electoral Act Thus, the removal of deceased voters, duplicates and other malcontents is a continuous exercise necessary for the update of the voters roll in an effort to keep it accurate, complete and current. The state of the voters roll is always very fluid save for cases where rt is deemed dosed for purposes of an election in terms of sections 26A and 121A of the Electoral Act, as the case may be, and in this instance, for wards and constituencies being contested on the 26 March 2022 by-elections whose voters’ rolls have already been closed and compiled.
The public should also know that the Commission has come across a few cases of several different people using the same national identity cards and sometimes, the same physical addresses to register as voters. Investigations have revealed that there are some people who engage in the illegal practice of giving their identity documents to relatives for use. In some cases, the identity documents are stolen and used without the owner’s knowledge. The Commission’s Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) does not pock such anomalies since the fingerprints of the registrants are different because they are indeed different people sharing the same identity cards. However, when the Commission identifies such irregularities, it removes the entries from the voters’ roll and puts them on an exclusion list pending regularisation of the identities by the Civil Registry.
Regarding allegations of too many transfers, the public is hereby informed that the Electoral Law permits any voter who has become resident in another constituency or ward to transfer their registration to that constituency or ward upon production of their proof of identity and requisite residence documents. It is incumbent upon registered voters resident in that constituency or ward to object to the new registration if they feel that that is not the case. ZEC has no authority to deny a voter his or her right to transfer.
The Commission would like to state that the allocation of polling stations to registrants is purely determined by their proofs of residence presented to voter registration officers. Voter registration officers are not duty-bound to go and physically check whether
the details on the affidavits and other proofs of residence presented to them by prospective registrants are correct or not. It behoves on all eligible voters and other stakeholders to act in good faith in relation to all electoral processes and the public is reminded that an affidavit is a sworn statement and If one presents fake information on affidavits used as proof of residence, they commit an offence of perjury.
ZEC is not secretly changing boundaries as alleged by the so-called analysts and no boundary delimitation has started. Delimitation is a public exercise involving stakeholder consultations and it shall only commence after the conclusion of the national population census. The allegations are therefore unfounded and meant only to tarnish the image of the Commission and to mislead stakeholders. 
The Electorate is advised that the Commission, in line with the provisions of the law, wiN publish a notice of its intention to commence the delimitation exercise and the public will be informed of this development in due course.
U Silalgwana 
Chief Elections Officer 
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission
</blockquote>
In response, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) spokesperson, Fadzayi Mahere said: “The bottom line is that a number of anomalies have been pointed out by the citizens &amp; as a constitutional body that has a legal duty to be transparent, you must explain these irregularities. We demand answers!
<h2>More: <a href="https://news.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a></h2>

"Pure Malice," - ZEC Dismisses Allegations Of Rigging

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has appointed Utloile Silaigwana as the substantive Chief Elections Officer with effect from 1 July 2019. In a statement, ZEC said:
<blockquote>The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is pleased to announce that it has appointed Mr Utloile Silaigwana the substantive Chief Elections Officer with effect from 1 July 2019.
Mr Silaigwana has 17 years’ experience in election management, having served in the Electoral Supervisory Commission (ESC) between 2002 and 2005 as a provincial Coordinator.
He rose through the ranks to become the Deputy Chief Elections Officer in charge of Civic and Voter Education between 2003 and 2004. During his tenure, he was instrumental in the establishment of the ESC’s secretariat structure.
Mr Silaigwana was then seconded to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission at its inception in 2005 as Director Voter Education and Public Relations.
He was subsequently appointed to a senior position of Deputy Chief Elections Officer in charge of operations in 2007.
Prior to his appointment, Mr Silaigwana has been the Acting Chief Elections Officer since March 2018 and he superintended over the conduct of the 2018 Harmonised Elections.</blockquote>

Silaigwana Appointed Substantive ZEC Chief Elections Officer

In an interview with NewsDay, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) acting chief elections officer Utloile Silaigwana said the electoral commission conducted elections according to Zimbabwe’s laws.
He also said ZEC learnt from this election that social media can be used to create false statements. Silaigwana said the European Union Observer Mission (EUOM) is entitled to its own views but the truth is that ZEC met regional standards. Said Silaigwana:
<blockquote>The European Union like any other observer group is entitled to its own views. Save for certain unsubstantiated allegations by the observer group, Zec believes that there are lessons to be learnt from any election. The major lesson learnt is that political egos can affect the smooth administration of electoral processes. Further, as an electoral management body, we learnt that social media is a tool which can be used to distort reality by repeating misleading and untrue statements so many times that they take on the veneer of truth. The truth is that we conducted our elections in accordance with our laws. We met regional standards and were duly acknowledged to have done so.</blockquote>
<hr/>
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More: <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/2018/10/zec-berates-social-media-for-creating-falsehoods/">NewsDay</a>

We Conducted Elections In Accordance With Our Laws, We Met Regional Standards- ZEC Responds To EU Observers

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has revealed that it will 130 000 people from the civil service to act as polling officers for the July 30 elections. Said Zec acting chief elections officer Utloile Silaigwana,
<blockquote>We need roughly 130 000 polling officers for this exercise. This is because there are several polling stations so we need officers present at ward level, command centres, districts and provinces thus the number is estimated at that. We have not recruited any polling officers as yet but we are doing ground work at the moment and we will soon recruit and train them…According to the Electoral Act, recruitment of polling officers is done form State institutions, local authorities and the Health Services Board. We write to them and inform them of the qualifications that we need for one to qualify to be a polling officer. That is how we select polling officers.</blockquote>
More: The Sunday News

Zec To Recruit 130 000 Polling Officers

In a statement, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) acting chief elections officer Mr Utloile Silaigwana dismissed allegations made by a person claiming to be a Zimbabwe National Army member working as an undercover intelligence operative in the electoral body.
He said the message is meant to tarnish the image of ZEC. Said Silaigwana:
<blockquote>The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission hereby alerts members of the public against individuals who are bent on tarnishing the image of the commission by circulating false information on WhatsApp, purporting to be linked either directly or indirectly to the commission. This comes in the wake of a recording circulating on the application of an individual who is purporting to be a member of the Zimbabwe National Army at ZEC as an undercover intelligence operative.</blockquote>
He also denied that ZEC has serving soldiers in its employment. ZEC refuted claims that the use of the code *265# to confirm one’s registration status was meant to remove certain groups of registrants from the provisional voters’ roll. 
More: <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/zec-dismisses-army-deployment-claims/">Herald</a>

ZEC Speaks On WhatsApp Recording Of "Soldier" Working As Undercover Intelligence Operative

Utloile Silaigwana has been appointed as the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) acting chief elections officer taking over from Mrs Constance Chigwamba who has since returned to the Public Service Commission.
In a statement yesterday, Zec chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba confirmed the appointment. Said Chigumba:
<blockquote>The Zec is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Utloile Silaigwana as the acting chief elections officer with effect from 1st of March 2018. Mr Silaigwana possesses a wealth of experience in election management and administration spurning over 15 years.
Mr Silaigwana is a holder of several qualifications in elections administration including a Masters in Electoral Policy and Administration, a Certificate in Election Observation, a Certificate in Elections and Violence and Conflict Resoultion and a Certificate in Leadership and Dialogue for Electoral Stakeholders.</blockquote>
Mr Silaigwana worked in the then Electoral Supervisory Commission as a director civic and voter education, public relations and international liaison and joined Zec in deputy chief elections officer responsible for operations in 2007.
More: <a href="http://www.chronicle.co.zw/zec-appoints-silaigwana-chief-election-officer/">Chronicle</a>

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