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Election
Administration, Constitutional and Legal framework for the 2005
Parliametary Elections
Electoral Institute of Southern Africa (EISA)
Published as Zimbabwe Election Update Number 01
March
04, 2005
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Contents
- Introduction
- The Electoral
System in Zimbabwe
- Administration
of Elections
- Zimbabwe
Electoral Commission
- Delimitation
Commission
- Electoral
Supervisory Commission
- Constitutional
& Legal Framework
- Statutory
Instruments
- Pre-Election
Political Setting
- Review of
Previous Elections
- Primary Elections
in the MDC
- Primary Elections
in ZANU PF
- Human Rights
Issues
- Financing
of Political Parties
- Proclamation
& Nomination Court
- Voter Education
- Compiled
by Choice Ndoro EISA Editorial Team Jackie Kalley, Khabele Matlosa,
Denis Kadima Published with the assistance of New Zealand High
Commission
Introduction
The stage is set for Zimbabwe's historic parliamentary elections
to be held on 31 March 2005, the fifth since independence. Zimbabwe's
elections have become landmark elections in the SADC region, as
well as worldwide. They are usually marked by anxiety and scepticism
by some countries, as well as steering the spirit of brotherhood
in other developing countries. The 2002 Presidential elections had
a divisive effect in that while some countries openly condemned
and criticised the manner in which the elections were conducted,
other states stood steadfastly behind Zimbabwe, stressing the need
for sovereignty and autonomy. Given this backdrop, the 2005 general
elections are likely to stir even more debate and controversy.
The Electoral
system in Zimbabwe
Parliamentary elections in Zimbabwe must take place at least every
five years and Presidential elections every six years. General elections
must be held within a period not exceeding 90 days after a proclamation
dissolving Parliament is made. Zimbabwe is currently divided into
Parliamentary constituencies and, in each of these an election will
be conducted if there is more than one candidate standing. A system
of First-Past-the-Post is utilised to determine the outcome of the
election.
A person wishing
to be registered as a voter for a particular constituency must complete
a prescribed form and lodge it with the constituency registrar for
that particular constituency. The person concerned must be resident
in that constituency at the date of his/her claim but this regulation
is waived when it relates to uniformed forces and people on diplomatic
missions. The Delimitation Commission determines the limits of the
constituencies into which Zimbabwe is to be divided and the presentl
number is 120. Each constituency should contain roughly the same
number of registered voters. On the completion of the Delimitation
Commission (D.C)'s task, a report is presented to the President.
The President can refer back to the D.C on any matter arising from
the report for further consideration and final decision. After receiving
the report, the President proclaims and declares the names and boundaries
of constituencies in the Gazette.
The Constitution
defines Zimbabwe as a Constitutional democracy by giving supremacy
to the Constitution that outlines among other issues, basic rights
and freedoms. The Electoral Act Chapter 2:13 provides for bodies
established to conduct free and fair elections. These are the Delimitation
Commission (DC), the Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC), and the
Electoral Supervisory Commission (ESC).
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