In a bid to uphold democratic principles, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Fredrick Shava, reaffirmed the country’s commitment to delivering free, fair, transparent, and credible elections scheduled for August 23rd. Shava made the assurance during a recent briefing to diplomatic and observer missions on the nation’s preparedness for the harmonized elections.
The forthcoming polls will be conducted under new electoral boundaries, which were gazetted by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in February. These elections are deemed critical not only for Zimbabwe but also for the international community, as they are integral to the country’s engagement, re-engagement, and affirmation agenda.
Minister Shava extended a warm welcome to all observer missions and diplomatic representatives, inviting them to witness and assess the electoral process impartially. He emphasized that Zimbabwe has nothing to hide, as the nation has consistently conducted free and fair elections since gaining independence in 1980. The hope is that the prevailing peace and tranquility will continue during and after the elections.
In addition to the Foreign Affairs Minister’s briefing, Minister of Justice, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi, provided an update on the legal framework governing the polls. He announced that an updated voter’s roll is now ready, showing a total of 6.6 million registered voters across 11,501 polling stations throughout the country.
Speaking on the media landscape, Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services, Kindness Paradza, noted significant progress in liberalizing the media environment. Repressive media laws have been repealed, and new national, commercial radio, and television stations have been registered. Paradza stated that this is the first election to take place under a reconfigured and improved media environment since Zimbabwe’s independence 43 years ago. With the addition of six new national, commercial television stations now broadcasting, maximum media coverage during the elections is ensured.
Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Kazembe Kazembe, provided an update on the preparations by the security services sector. He assured that the ministry is focused on allocating necessary resources to maintain law and order, with particular attention to the police service, to ensure a free, fair, peaceful, and credible election.
As the nation prepares for the crucial electoral event, Zimbabwe welcomes observers from around the world to witness the democratic process unfold. The commitment to transparency and impartiality aims to enhance confidence both domestically and internationally in the electoral proceedings. With these measures in place, Zimbabwe hopes to set an example for conducting credible elections and reinforcing democratic values in the region.
