The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure
Senior Reporter
THE country is now in full election mode following the proclamation of the Nomination Court and election dates, with political parties now finalising their campaign messages.
President Mnangagwa proclaimed August 23, 2023 as the date on which the country will hold its elections for the public to elect the President, as well as parliamentary and local government representatives.
On June 21, the Nomination Court will sit to consider and accept candidates that will take part in the elections.
Several political parties, including the ruling Zanu PF and opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), are expected to take part in the harmonized elections.
The proclamation of the elections date saw the campaign season kicking off in earnest, as it had so far been low level.
Zanu PF provincial spokesperson, Cde Samson Matema said the ruling party has ramped up its campaign as it works towards a sweeping victory in all of Manicaland’s wards and constituencies.
Cde Matema said they will base their electoral position on solid groundwork and carefully articulated messages that highlight the achievements of the Second Republic.
“As a province, we are doing all we can to send the message of the developmental agenda ushered in by the Second Republic under the stewardship of the forward-focused leader, the President and First Secretary of the revolutionary party, Cde ED Mnangagwa.
“The country has been on a developmental trajectory since the last harmonised elections in 2018, and we are convinced that the electorate will reward us with a resounding victory.
“The incremental growth across sectors in mining, tourism, agriculture, road infrastructure, energy, etcetera, point to the Second Republic’s hard work,” he said.
Cde Matema said Zanu PF members in Manicaland have already picked up the pieces after the recently held primary elections, adding that members of the ruling party are united ahead of the harmonised elections.
He said following the primary elections, losers and winners have promised to work together and ensure that the party wins the forthcoming elections resoundingly.
“We are ready to face the foreign sponsored opposition in all their manifestations across all the 26 constituencies in Manicaland, and our victory is certain,” said Cde Matema.
National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) leader, Professor Lovemore Madhuku said the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) should effect a downward revision of the candidates’ nomination fees to rates that were used during the 2018 general elections, that is US$1000 for Presidential candidates and US$50 for parliamentarians.
The nomination fees for this year, as per Statutory Instrument 144 of 2022, are US$20 000 for Presidential candidates, payable in cash or the RTGS equivalent at the prevailing official rate.
Parliamentary candidates need to pay US$1000 while those on the proportional representation party lists for parliament and provincial councils need to part with US$100 or the equivalent in local currency.
Said Prof Madhuku: “As NCA we are certainly ready. Apart from the issue of nomination fees, we are ready for the elections and we are going to field parliamentary candidates in all the 26 constituencies in Manicaland.
“However, we will not be able to field candidates in all the wards for local government elections. Rate our chances highly as we will brew some shocks in most of those constituencies,” said Professor Madhuku.
Democratic Union of Zimbabwe (DUZ) communications director, Mr Itayi Muchemwa Tawona said their party is in dire straits following massive resignations which are threatening their ability to field candidates in all of Manicaland’s constituencies and wards.
Said Mr Tawona: “We are not going to field candidates in all constituencies there, but will only contest where we command a following. It is a waste of time and resources to contest where we are not known.
“Of late the party has been marred by massive resignations, and there are a lot of things happening behind the scene. We are expecting more resignations next week, including mine,” he said.
DUZ was thrown into disarray after its national youth chairperson, Mr Elvis Dzvene, resigned and claimed that the movement has lost direction and accused the leadership of being dictatorial.
Mr Dzvene, who joined the Mr Robert Chapman-led DUZ last year, said he now regrets the decision to join the opposition party and was unable to continue serving the party.
CCC spokesperson, Advocate Tafadzwa Mahere said their leader Mr Nelson Chamisa is expecting victory in the upcoming elections.
“From the inception of the citizens’ movement, we have been laying the groundwork for that victory. We have executed a mass grassroots mobilization campaign which has seen the CCC penetrate each of the 36000 villages in the rural areas, towns, cities and all provinces, including Manicaland.
“We have also made it a priority to secure citizen representatives so that every community in Zimbabwe is represented by a competent, ethical MP and councillor.
“We have pushed very hard for reforms, including mounting political pressure for the release of the electronic voters’ roll, the independence of ZEC, the security of the vote and the voter, media freedom as well as respect for political freedoms.
“We continue to press for those reforms which are mandated by the Constitution. We know that where there’s a will there’s a way.
“We conducted the biggest voter registration campaign which saw over 2 million new voters added to the voters’ roll,” said Advocate Mahere.
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) leader, Mr Douglas Mwonzora said it is unfortunate that the proclamation came at a time when their matter is still pending before the High Court.
In May, a full Constitutional Court bench led by Chief Justice Luke Malaba threw out a court application filed by Mr Mwonzora seeking the court to postpone the 2023 harmonised elections until delimitation of constituencies is re-done.
In dismissing the court application, Justice Malaba said the application lacks jurisdiction, thereby forcing the litigant to approach the High Court.
Mr Mwonzora said they have called the national council and their national executive committee will be sitting this weekend to come up with a final party position.
