Zimbabwe will in two months’ time hold by-elections to fill in 28 parliamentary and 122 local authority seats that have fallen vacant over a period of the past two years. The government delayed calling for the mini-polls citing Covid-19 lockdown protocols.
Below is the crucial information on the roadmap for the impending by-elections.
By-election Proclamation Date
President Emmerson Mnangagwa on January 6, 2022, proclaimed both the election and nomination courts sitting dates.
The dates were declared in accordance with Section 39(2) of the Electoral Act (Chapter 2:13) that reads:
“After the President has been notified in terms of the said section of vacancies in the membership of the National Assembly, he shall issue a proclamation ordering a new election to fill the vacancies in the same manner as is provided in Section 38 of the said Act in regard to a general notice.”
Closure of the by-elections voters’ roll
The by-elections voters’ roll closed on January 8, two days after the proclamation of the election dates in accordance with the country’s laws.
This was also confirmed by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson, Justice Priscilla Chigumba at a press conference in Victoria Falls early this month.
“The Commission [also] wishes to advise that the voters’ roll for the proclaimed National Assembly vacancies closed on the 8th of January 2022 (two days after proclamation) while the voters’ roll in respect of the ward elections closed when the vacancies occurred as indicated in published ZEC notices,” said Chigumba.
“This however does not mean that registration for the subsequent elections is closed. Eligible persons can still be registered as voters as this is an ongoing activity but such persons will not be able to vote in already proclaimed elections.”
Date for the sitting of nomination courts
Nomination courts will sit on Wednesday, January 26 to receive and confirm the names of the contesting candidates.
Where will the nomination courts be sitting?
· Bulawayo – Magistrate Court -Court 5 (covering both Bulawayo and Matabeleland North vacant seats).
· Harare – Magistrate (Rotten Row)
· Mutare Magistrate Court 102
· Marondera Magistrate Court
· Gweru Magistrate Court
The by-elections date
The by-election will be held on Saturday 26 March 2022
