CSOs reneged on voter education to protest PVO Bill, Patriotic Act

Harare (New Ziana) – Civil Society Organisations virtually reneged on voter education ahead of the August 2023 harmonised elections in protest against the Patriotic and the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) Bills, a report has revealed.

In its recent report on the August general elections, the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) commended voter education which the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and some accredited organisations conducted but took exception to the failure by CSOs to show up.

“The pre-election period saw less participation by CSOs in all provinces monitored, especially in offering civic education. CSOs engaged with by ZHRC stated that their participation was limited owing to issues raised in the Patriotic and PVO Bills, which heavily censored their work and that they risked being deregistered,” the ZHRC said.

“ZEC officials across provinces also stated that they were concerned by the lack of CSOs participation in civic education on elections. ZEC officials indicated that CSOs would go a long way in covering more ground and reaching out to more people, and in turn contributing immensely to the work of ZEC.”

President Emmerson Mnangagwa assented to the Patriotic Bill but referred the PVO Bill back to Parliament for unknown reasons.

The ZHRC said it said it came across ZEC voter educators across the country and stakeholders also confirmed receiving adequate voter education in their communities.

A common complaint across the country’s 10 provinces was the pulling down and defacing of posters and campaign materials by supporters of rival political party candidates, the ZHRC said.

It noted that nomination fees for the Presidential and National Assembly and local authority positions were increased and were beyond the reach of some contestants, particularly women.

The government said it raised the nomination fees to deter opportunists who would have jumped on board as happened in the 2018 election, which had a record 23 contestants.

ZHRC conducted community outreaches, observed political rallies, received and investigated election related complaints, as well as attended multi party liaison committee meetings chaired by ZEC.

New Ziana