Zanu PF party wins Nketa constituency by-elections

Source: Zanu PF party wins Nketa constituency by-elections Nketa constituency elections officer Mr Mbinganyi Mahangwe has declared Albert Mavunga of Zanu PF party as the duly elected member of parliament Nketa constituency elections officer Mr Mbinganyi Mahangwe has declared Albert Mavunga of Zanu PF party as the duly elected member of parliament for Nketa constituency […]

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Source: Zanu PF party wins Nketa constituency by-elections

Nketa constituency elections officer Mr Mbinganyi Mahangwe has declared Albert Mavunga of Zanu PF party as the duly elected member of parliament

Nketa constituency elections officer Mr Mbinganyi Mahangwe has declared Albert Mavunga of Zanu PF party as the duly elected member of parliament for Nketa constituency after polling 1550 votes against Ambrose Sibindi of CCC who polled 1439 votes and Luckmore Gwetu of DOP party who polled 177 votes.

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Tshabangu Expresses Readiness To Accept By-elections Results

Source: Tshabangu Expresses Readiness To Accept By-elections Results Self-proclaimed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) interim secretary general Sengezo Tshabangu said that his party will accept the outcome of the by-elections held today, 09 December. Speaking to the Chronicle, Tshabangu said the elections were held in a peaceful environment, and he will therefore accept the results. Tshabangu, […]

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Source: Tshabangu Expresses Readiness To Accept By-elections Results

Self-proclaimed Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) interim secretary general Sengezo Tshabangu said that his party will accept the outcome of the by-elections held today, 09 December.

Speaking to the Chronicle, Tshabangu said the elections were held in a peaceful environment, and he will therefore accept the results.

Tshabangu, however, expressed concern over reports of voter apathy after it emerged that the majority of registered voters shunned the polls. He said:

To us, any outcome will be accepted although everyone knows that when you go into any contest, the objective is to win.

However, everyone knows that in this political game, it’s either you win or lose and you must be prepared to accept especially the losing part. It’s all part of democracy.

These by-elections presented an opportunity for a democratic foundation as we look forward to 2028.

We are of course concerned about the reported voter apathy because we know that any voter apathy has always benefited ZANU PF.

Tshabangu has recalled scores of CCC MPs and councillors, saying they had ceased to be members of the opposition party.

However, CCC leader Nelson Chamisa has dismissed Tshabangu as an imposter and accused him of working with ZANU PF to destroy the opposition party.

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Top Cop Under Probe For Allegedly Extorting Motorists

Source: Top Cop Under Probe For Allegedly Extorting Motorists The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is investigating corruption allegations levelled against Assistant Commissioner Tawonei Nyazema (Operations Harare), a senior officer has said. Assistant Commissioner Tawonei Nyazema is being accused of corruption and extorting transport operators. ZRP spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi told The Herald that the allegations have […]

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Source: Top Cop Under Probe For Allegedly Extorting Motorists

The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) is investigating corruption allegations levelled against Assistant Commissioner Tawonei Nyazema (Operations Harare), a senior officer has said.

Assistant Commissioner Tawonei Nyazema is being accused of corruption and extorting transport operators.

ZRP spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi told The Herald that the allegations have been brought to the attention of Police Commissioner General Godwin Matanga and investigations are currently underway. He said:

We are aware of messages being circulated on social media and this has been brought to the attention of the Commissioner General of Police.

The ZRP has taken note of the allegations and investigations are in progress. We will however issue a detailed statement in due course.

Motorists often accuse police officers deployed to enforce traffic laws of soliciting bribes and outright extortion.

On 12 September 2023, ZRP launched an operation dubbed  “Tame the Traffic Jungle”  to deal with illegal transport operators and tame other forms of lawlessness on the country’s roads.

However, rogue police officers took it as an opportunity to milk motorists with some corrupt police officers soliciting and receiving bribes ranging between US$5 to US$10, even for serious offences.

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Zimbabwe by-elections: Polls open in controversial vote 

The polls in a handful of constituencies could give the government a constitution-changing majority. Source: Zimbabwe by-elections: Polls open in controversial vote – BBC News IMAGE SOURCE, GETTY IMAGES Saturday’s by-elections come just over three months since the general election By Will Ross Africa editor, BBC World Service Zimbabwe is holding by-elections in which there […]

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The polls in a handful of constituencies could give the government a constitution-changing majority.

Source: Zimbabwe by-elections: Polls open in controversial vote – BBC News

Voters arrive at a polling station to cast their votes as the election extends to a second day after long ballot delays, on August 24, 2023GETTY IMAGES
Saturday’s by-elections come just over three months since the general election
By Will Ross
Africa editor, BBC World Service

Zimbabwe is holding by-elections in which there have been attempts to exclude the main opposition candidates – as President Emmerson Mnangagwa cements his control.

The vote was triggered after some opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) MPs had their seats declared vacant.

This was engineered by someone claiming to be the party’s secretary-general.

The outcome could give the government an overwhelming majority.

The CCC lost August’s general election but won more than 100 of the 280 seats in parliament. This denied the ruling Zanu-PF party a two-thirds majority that would enable it to change the constitution.

And there are people who suspect that the party has played a role in forcing these by-elections in constituencies where it recently lost.

But the CCC is plagued by factional conflicts and the current crisis appears to a large extent to be self-inflicted.

The reason this all matters is that President Mnangagwa’s party is just a few seats short of a two-thirds majority in parliament.

Once it crosses that threshold, constitutional changes can be pushed through. It would be no great surprise if there is soon talk of abolishing presidential term limits.

Zimbabweans had hoped the downfall of Robert Mugabe six years ago would see the country go on a more democratic path.

What is surprising is some within the opposition appear to be helping concentrate power in the president’s hands.

In October, Sengezo Tshabangu, a name up to that point was unknown to most people in Zimbabwe, wrote to the parliamentary speaker alleging some CCC MPs had “ceased to be members of the party”.

The CCC leader, Nelson Chamisa, immediately labelled Mr Tshabangu a fake and told the speaker to ignore the letter.

But it was Mr Chamisa who was ignored as the speaker duly declared vacancies in the constituencies. Saturday’s by-elections are a result of that.

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Zimbabwe Media commended for improved elections reporting in 2023

Source: Zimbabwe Media commended for improved elections reporting in 2023 | UNESCO Hate speech and disinformation characterised the build up and post election period in Zimbabwe in 2023 especially on social media. A post election conference reveals that the media improved in their reporting to keep the electorate better informed. Read more below. Zimbabwe’s media […]

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Source: Zimbabwe Media commended for improved elections reporting in 2023 | UNESCO

Hate speech and disinformation characterised the build up and post election period in Zimbabwe in 2023 especially on social media. A post election conference reveals that the media improved in their reporting to keep the electorate better informed. Read more below.

Zimbabwe’s media has been commended for its improved reporting and coverage of the country’s harmonized elections held on 23 and 24 August 2023.

Officiating a post-election media Indaba in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe’s second largest city, organized by the Zimbabwe Media Commission (ZMC), the Chief Director in the Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting Services, Dr Jonathan Gandari, applauded the media for objectively giving accurate accounts of events transpiring during the election period, keeping the electorate informed for decision making. An indaba is an important conference held by a multi-stakeholder group and community members to discuss pertinent societal issues.

The impact of the work done by the different stakeholders is quite visible for all to see… we saw an increase in balanced reportage and a genuine desire to uncover facts and relate them objectively

Dr Gandari read a statement on behalf of the Minister of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting Services, Dr Jenfan Muswere.

The event was attended by officials from the Ministry of Information, Publicity & Broadcasting Services, different political players, and media stakeholders.

Albeit the need to continue working towards balanced, equitable, transparent, objective, and peaceful reporting on elections, the media showed improvement in their reportage in 2023 compared to the previous election in 2018.

Prior to the elections, the Zimbabwe Media Commission partnered with the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and other organisations to conduct election reporting trainings, reaching over 1000 key media stakeholders throughout the country.  The trainings were enrichened by the Elections Reporting and Peace Building Manual produced by ZMC with technical and financial support from UNESCO, aimed at equipping media practitioners with the necessary knowledge and skills on reporting elections.

The Commission rolled out a nation-wide training programme based on the Election Reporting and Peace Building Manual which was part of its efforts to capacitate the media industry to cover the 2023 elections objectively and fairly.

Prof Ruby Magosvongwe, Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Media Commission

During the Indaba, the Zimbabwe Media Commission presented certificates of appreciated to election reporting trainers for building the capacity of media professionals and other key election stakeholders in the build up to the August 2023 election. The certification accords the trainers the right to continue training the media on election reporting during the election cycle.

UNESCO Regional Adviser for Communication and Information, Al Amin Yusuph, in his remarks encouraged the media to uphold media ethics and standards throughout the electoral cycle because they are not an event but a process.

The media has a responsibility to continue to monitor and report on the implementation of the electoral promises and commitments, and to hold the elected officials accountable to the people. The media also has an opportunity to reflect on the successes achieved and lessons learned, so that more improvements can be made from now onwards into the next elections.

Al Amin Yusuph, UNESCO Regional Adviser for Communication and Information

The second media Indaba was a buildup to the first pre-election Indaba held in Mutare in July 2023. The elections media capacity strengthening actions were conducted with support from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Capacity Building Project: Strengthening media capacity for responsible election reporting (ZIM-ECO2) coordinated by UNDP. The project is implemented by UNDP, UNESCO, and UN Women with funding support from France and Japan.

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