Video: Nelson Chamisa needs US$244K to field candidates in all seats #ElectionsZW https://youtu.be/sVa2Y065b6w

It is hardly surprising that the 10th anniversary of the 2013 Constitution is being celebrated when the country is witnessing the erosion of constitutionalism and the acceleration of authoritarian consolidation in Zimbabwe.

Those who registered, on or before 28 April 2023, are encouraged to inspect the voters` roll at their ordinary polling stations which have been designated as inspection centres for purposes of this voters roll inspection exercise. Note, your name will appear only at that inspection centre if that centre is your designated polling station. Registrants who registered up to the 28th of April 2023 can also use the USSD code *265# for Netone and Econet subscribers to inspect their details using their mobile phones. #ElectionsZW

Section (157.5) says “After an election has been called, no change to the Electoral Law or to any other law relating to elections has effect for the purpose of that election.”

…Taking into account the timelines for the sitting of the nomination court and the possible election dates between 27 July 2023 - 26 August 2023 …”

It is highly unlikely that a general election due between 20 and 26 August 2023 will be called off barring unforeseen events such as an earthquake, a disease outbreak like COVID-19, or civil war.

Looking at our elections in Zimbabwe, at one point, it took a month before results came out. Zimbabwe is a very small country and with technological advancement, these days news travel fast. Zimbabwe has less than seven million voters but our elections take time. This Bill should address the delaying of results. Results should come out within the same day. In other countries where we observe elections, you just go online and see the results as they come virtually - because of that, people prepare themselves. In Zimbabwe, results are secretive. They go to the Command Centre and are announced later but with technological advancement, I believe Madam Speaker that results should be announced in real time as things happen from ward level when the councillor is announced as a winner. The moment that is announced, automatically people know that the President has how many votes in that ward. When the last result of our councillors in Zimbabwe is announced, the Presidential results will be known. What prohibits us from knowing the results in real time so that we know who has won as President? When the Members of Parliament results are announced, the Presidential results would already been known. Why do we not do that if we want the results to be known? There should not be excuses like security issues because no-one is above the law, the Electoral Act.