##ElectionsZW: ZEC is not independent; it reports to the Govt of the day
Norton legislator Temba Mliswa says the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is not independent as is required by the country’s laws.
ZEC is one of the independent commissions that are created by Chapter 12 of the Zimbabwe constitution.
Its mandate is to organise, manage and supervise elections in the country.
In carrying out its mandate, ZEC uses the Electoral Act which is created by Section 157 of the constitution.
Speaking during a Twitter-Spaces organised by OpenParly and the Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (ZESN) Mliswa said the Electoral Act needs to change.
‘’ZEC is a commission under Chapter 12. We cannot continue to have a commission that reports to a minister, then it’s not independent.
‘’You cannot have an electoral body that reports to the government of the day. It takes away the entire independence that it is supposed to have.
‘’What you are supposed to have is instilling confidence in the people by being totally independent,’’ he said.
Lets relook the Electoral Act
Mliswa added that ‘’you have got to have the Electoral Act looked at. We have got to deal with reforms that are critical for it to be independent. And all those reforms have been outstanding for a long time.
‘’You have got to empower ZEC itself. ZEC must be empowered to be able to come and deduct votes to those who violate the electoral act and the code of conduct,’’ he said.
Zimbabwe is set to hold by-elections on the 26th of March this year. The by-elections are meant to replace legislators and councillors who were recalled and those that died along the way.
Both Zanu PF and MDC Alliance recalled legislators due to factional fights in the parties.
The elections campaigns had incidences of violence in Kwekwe where one person was confirmed dead by the Zimbabwe Republic Police, while several others got injured.
Besides coming to fill the gaps in Parliament and local authorities, the by-elections will also help determine who is the main opposition party in Zimbabwe between MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora and Citizens Coalition for Change led by Nelson Chamisa.
The election also gives Labour Economists African Democrats (LEAD) their baptism of fire, as it is their first election since formation.
#ElectionsZW: ZEC is not independent; it reports to the Govt of the day
