Zimbabwe’s 2023 general elections have been marred by concerning reports of arbitrary arrests, voter suppression, and intimidation tactics that have cast a shadow over the democratic process. These issues have raised alarms and prompted international scrutiny, as allegations of civil rights violations and interference with election observation have come to light.
In the midst of the election process, unsettling accounts of voter intimidation and the arrest of individuals affiliated with Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) engaged in accredited election observation work have emerged. 39 CSO staff members and volunteers, with legitimate accreditation from the Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC), were taken into custody on election night, creating a sense of uncertainty and concern about the transparency of the electoral proceedings. This can also be attributed to one of the objectives of the PVO Amendment Bill, which intends to stop CSOs from engaging in ‘political lobbying’. This also adds to the body of evidence of the shrinking operating environment necessary for CSOs to play their role and implement various initiatives without any barriers.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) released a statement confirming the arrest of 36 suspects following raids on safe houses and hotel rooms tied to various individuals and civic groups. Among these were the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), Election Resource Centre (ERC), and Team Pachedu, who were accused of subversive activities. These events have only deepened suspicions about the integrity of the electoral process and civic space in Zimbabwe.
Despite the allegations, both ERC and ZESN, members of the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO), have jointly reiterated their deployment of thousands of accredited election observers across the nation. These observers aimed to provide impartial and unbiased assessments of the elections in every province, district, and constituency. Their comprehensive efforts involved gathering public information to ensure factual and accurate reporting on voting, counting, tabulation, and result announcements.
Even following election day, reports of observers and CSO staff members facing threats, attacks, and targeting have persisted. Shockingly, there have been instances of violence, including the torching of an observer’s house mere hours after the presidential election results were announced on August 26, 2023. This ongoing intimidation raises questions about the safety and security of CSOs and human rights defenders involved in the electoral process.
The role of CSOs in election-related activities is legally protected by the Electoral Act and the Constitution of Zimbabwe. We believe that these organizations have diligently maintained a non-partisan, objective, and professional approach to their work, aligning closely with their defined mandates. The practice of parallel result tabulation is a legitimate activity that these organizations have previously conducted within the confines of the law during past elections. Additionally, videos are publicly available where the ZEC chairperson, Priscilla Chigumba, encouraged CSOs to carry out parallel voter tabulation. The situation prompted international reactions, including calls from observer missions for the immediate release of the arrested CSO members and volunteers on constitutional grounds. Fortunately, the arrested individuals have since been released on bail.
The elections faced additional obstacles due to the late distribution of critical electoral materials by the ZEC. This resulted in significant delays in opening polling stations, particularly in urban centres like Harare, Bulawayo, and Mutare. Delays of over 10 hours, and in some cases extending into the following day, were reported. Consequently, Zimbabwe recorded a voter turnout of only 68 percent in the Presidential Elections, a notable decrease from the 85 percent turnout in 2018.
An unsettling aspect of these elections has been the alleged presence of agents from Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ) outside polling stations, reportedly engaging in voter intimidation tactics. The Commonwealth observer mission has expressed concern over the activities of FAZ in rural areas. The presence of these agents, seeking personal information from voters after casting their ballots, adds to the apprehension surrounding the electoral process. It is also confusing that FAZ, despite being legally registered as a Trust, is allowed to undertake partisan activities in favour of ZANU-PF and no one is questioning their mandate and conduct as an NGO operating in Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe’s history of a suppressed civic space has undoubtedly impacted citizen engagement, pressure group activities, and the work of CSOs. Under the banner of the APECS initiative, concerted efforts have been made to lobby and advocate for a conducive civic space. These efforts have yielded some results, as observer mission reports have acknowledged and raised concerns about the issues highlighted particularly the enactment of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Bill of 2022 and the Private Voluntary Organisation (PVO) Amendment Bill.
Zimbabwe conducted its presidential, parliamentary, and local government elections over a two-day period from August 23 to 24, 2023. However, logistical challenges, particularly in the distribution of ballot papers and the voters’ roll, led to extensive delays and the extension of voting to the following day. The country’s history of contentious elections, often marked by violence and disputes, has cast a long shadow over the current proceedings. Past elections have seen opposition parties accusing the ruling party, Zimbabwe African National Union–Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF), of orchestrating attacks and rigging results, further fuelling skepticism about the electoral process. The 2018 elections, for instance, were marred by controversy as the opposition contested the announced results in the Constitutional Court.
The Action to Enhance and Protect Civic Space in Zimbabwe (APECS) initiative continues to scale up efforts to push back CSOs repression and challenge the status quo which is characterised by: the backsliding of liberal democracy; disinformation being used to discredit CSOs; misapplication of counter-terrorism regulations deployed to control CSOs thereby shrinking the civic space; crackdowns on civil society at the public policy decision-making platforms; and restrictive operational modalities for CSOs at local government level.
The project is investing in the current and future preparedness of CSOs to predict and mitigate imminent risks. The focus is on framing alternative futures and taking them from imagination to action. This ‘anticipatory capacity’ is urgently required for CSOs to not only remain relevant but equally to claim and demonstrate legitimacy and accountability. The sector needs both anticipatory and reactive strategies to engage with and shape emerging and ongoing trends that change society over time, and to respond quickly to the sudden crises as they erupt, often unpredictable in their timing or scale.
