“Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance”

Koffi Annan

NGOs Restricted to Operate in Certain Districts

The government has started restricting the operations of non-governmental organisations in certain districts.The government is requesting certain documentation, processes, and clearances to be made available before the NGOs can start operations in certain rural districts.

Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum executive director Musa Kika stated that the operating environment for NGO has of late increasingly become difficult with the government demanding memorandum of understanding (Mou) for NGOs to access certain districts.

Source: Standard

Link: https://www.newsday.co.zw/thestandard/amp/news/article/200006757/ngos-under-siege-as-ed-tightens-noose

Churches Take a Firm Stand on Violence

Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) has condemned perpetual human rights violations and political violence in the country.

In a statement, the grouping, stated that “the church, in its moral and theological authority deeply expresses disappointment and condemns all forms of political violence, inhumane treatment, political persecution and arbitrary arrests of fellow Zimbabweans.”

The grouping also urged the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to strengthen its multi-party liaison committees to address electoral violence.

Source : Newsday

Link : https://www.newsday.co.zw/amp/local-news/article/200006647/churches-take-firm-stand-on-violence

Seven ZEC Commissioners Purportedly Excluded from the Elections Management Body

Seven Zimbabwe Electoral Commission(ZEC) commissioners who reportedly refused to append their signatures to the preliminary delimitation report, have been purportedly excluded from the Elections Management Body.

This follows the legal action endorsed by the seven commissioners as they wrote to the President and the Parliament accusing ZEC Chairperson Justice Chigumba and her deputy, of unilaterally imposing the draft delimitation report on the electoral body.

Sources say the seven commissioners had hoped that President Mnangagwa and Parliament would reject the report in its entirety without making any recommendations which would have a serious negative indictment on the ZEC Chairperson and her Deputy.

Other law experts have raised concerns over the governance of ZEC and the delimitation process.

Source: Newsday

Link : https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200006792/zec-chair-guns-for-rogue-commissioners

CCC appeals to SADC and AU

The opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has sent an appeal to Southern African Development Community (Sadc) and African Union (AU) to intervene on political violence ahead of the up coming 2023 harmonised elections.

In an official statement, Citizens Coalition for Change, National Spokesperson Fadzai Mahere stated that “As CCC, we are taking measures to protect our supporters. We have seen the latest incidents in Budiriro and Murewa. Political violence is on the increase, and we would like to urge the police to do their work in line with the law”.

Source: Newsday

Link : https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200006775/ccc-appeals-to-sadc-au

ZEC Refuses to Disclose the President’s recommendations on the Delimitation Report

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) has declined to disclose the recommendations that President Emmerson Mnangagwa (ED) made on its preliminary delimitation report.

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission told NewsDay that authority to get the President’s recommendations on the delimitation report could only be sought from the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC).

However, constitutional law expert and Political Actors Dialogue member, Lovemore Madhuku stated that President Mnangagwa's recommendations should be made public since he is an interested party in the elections.

Source: Bulawayo 24

Link : https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-national-byo-227303.html

PICTURE OF THE WEEK

📷 WLSA Zimbabwe : Launch of the Pan African Gendered Electoral Model Law in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe (2021)