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Press
statement on forthcoming local authority elections
Zimbabwe
Election Support Network (ZESN)
Sept
19, 2002
The network
would like to express concern at the results of the nomination courts
which resulted in the following:
- There is
no contestation in over 50% of the wards.
- We are worried
about allegations of
- intimidation
- violence
- demands
for long birth certificates in certain areas and it appears
not all aspiring candidates were informed of this prior to
the exercise
- change
of venue at short notice.
- Since the
nomination courts there have been reports of violence before the
Election Day as reported regarding Chief Rogers Nyamande of Gutu
North being a victim of violence.
Notwithstanding
the aggrieved parties' right to seek assistance from the courts
we call upon the ESC to thoroughly investigate all allegations of
intimidation, violence and all irregularities.
The prevalence
of such a situation is a threat to democratic values. Local Government
elections are the foundation of democratic norms in so far as they
enable residents to nurture the politics of a country and they should
be regarded as important as the other national elections.
Zimbabwe is
supposed to be a multi-party democracy where we cherish competition
and diversity of views. In an ideal situation we would have wanted
to see all political parties conducting free and fair primary elections.
This becomes more critical where there are no primary elections
and that candidate goes through unopposed. This denies the electorate
the chance to elect their leader and creates despondency and voter
apathy in future elections.
We reiterate
the need for reviewing the electoral law and framework to ensure
they are conducive for free and fair elections and hope that the
Parliament would look into these issues seriously before the next
elections.
ZESN condemns
election related violence and calls for a peaceful forthcoming local
authority election. Violence negates free and fair elections.
Dr Reginald
Matchaba-Hove
National
Chairperson
Visit the ZESN
fact sheet
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