Fact Sheet: Nomination of candidates for 2023 elections

This is a process that requires prospective candidates to go through the nomination court which qualifies or disqualifies one to contest in any election.

• Nominations of Presidential Candidates will be received at a single designated venue in Harare.
• Nominations of National Assembly Constituency members will be received at designated Provincial venues for all constituencies in the respective provinces.
• Nominations of party-list candidates for the Senate, National Assembly and Provincial Councils will be received at designated Provincial venues.
• Nominations of candidates for election to local authority councils will be received at designated offices of the various local authorities country-wide.

Who qualifies for nomination court?

• Any person who meets the requisite qualifications.

Presidential Candidate

For one to be a presidential candidate one must

• Be a citizen of Zimbabwe
• Be a registered voter
• Be 40 years of age and above
• Be nominated for by at least 10 registered voters from each of Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces
• Fill in the nomination form
  • 3 passport size photographs (full colour)
  • Original birth certificate and a copy
  • Original I.D. and a copy
  • Nomination fee of US$20000
  • 2 signed copies of the Code of Conduct for Political Parties and Candidates

• Ensure that the nomination form is endorsed by an authorised party representative, if sponsored by a political party.

National Assembly Constituency Candidate

For one to be a National Assembly Constituency Candidate one must:

• Be a citizen of Zimbabwe
• Be a registered voter
• Be 21 years of age and above
• Be nominated by at least 5 registered voters from the contested constituency
• Fill in the nomination forms
  • 3 passport size photographs (full colour)
  • Original birth certificate and a copy
  • Original I.D. and a copy
  • Nomination fee of US$1000
  • 2 signed copies of the Code of Conduct for Political parties and candidates

• Ensure that the nomination form is endorsed by an authorised Party Representative, if sponsored by a political party.

The prospective candidate must not be disqualified under the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution from registration as a voter.

Local Authority Candidate (Councilor)

For one to be a Local Authority Candidate one must:

• Be a citizen of Zimbabwe
• Be a registered voter
• Be 21 years of age and above
• Be nominated by at least 5 registered voters within the ward being contested
• Provide with the nomination forms
• 3 passport size photographs (full colour)
• Original birth certificate and a copy
• Original I.D. and a copy
• 2 signed copies of the code of Conduct of Political parties and candidates

• Ensure that the nomination form is endorsed by an authorised party representative, if sponsored by a political party.

The prospective candidate must not be disqualified

• under the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution from registration as a voter.
• In terms of Section 119(2) of the Electoral Act

Party List Candidates

A party contesting one or more National Assembly Constituency seats in a province may submit nominations for party list seats. Political Parties must submit, together with the Party-List nomination forms, a nomination fee of US$200 per party list.

Senate (At least 6 candidates per list in order of preference) Candidates for the Senate Party List must:

• Be a citizen of Zimbabwe
• Be a registered voter
• Be 40 years of age and above
• Provide 3 passport size photographs (full colour)
• Be registered within the Province concerned

The Party list must adopt the Zebra format of having alternating female and male candidates with a female candidate always heading the list in order of preference.

National Assembly (Women Quota) (At least 6 candidates per list in order of preference) Candidates for the National Assembly Party List must:

• Be a citizen of Zimbabwe
• Be a registered voter
• Be 21 years of age and above
• Provide 3 passport size photographs (full colour)
• Be registered within the Province concerned

Provincial Council (At least 10 candidates per list in order of preference) Candidates for the Provincial Council Party List must:

• Be a citizen of Zimbabwe
• Be a registered voter
• Be 21 years of age and above
• Provide 3 passport size photographs (full colour)
• Be registered within the Province concerned

The Party list must adopt the Zebra format of having alternating female and male candidates with a female candidate always heading the list in order of preference

Party-List Disqualifications.

One is disqualified for nomination on the party list if:

• On party list in more than one province;
• If on more than one party list;

• If standing as a candidate as a constituency member of the National assembly or as a councillor Prohibited Symbols

The following symbols must not be used as political party symbols in terms of Section 46 of the Electoral Act

1. A lion;
2. A bird of prey;
3. A rhinocerous;
4. A laurel wreath
5. A leopard
6. A cheetah
7. An owl
8. A sword
9. A griffon
10. A cobra
11. A secretary bird
12. A flaming torch
13. An axe
14. An elephant
15. A buffalo
16. A flame lilly

SOURCE: ZIMBABWE ELECTORAL COMMISSION