By Jane Mlambo| Yesterday, government gazetted a new Statutory Instrument 225 of 2020 which suspends the holding of by-elections during the period of the pandemic Covid-19.

According to the gazetted SI 225 of 2020, Chiwenga invoked the Public Health Act to block by-elections which had earlier been earmarked for the 5th of December.

“Pursuant to subsection (2), the holding of any by-elections to fill a casual vacancy in parliament or in a local authority is for the duration of the period of the declaration of COVID-19 as a formidable epidemic, suspended, and if such a vacancy occurred while such declaration is in force, no part of the period from the date of such vacancy to the date of the end of the declaration shall be counted for the purposes of section 158(3) of the constitution,” reads SI 225 of 2020.

However political analysts have accused government of abusing Covid-19 pandemic to close the democratic space.

“Critics warned that COVID19 would present an opportunity for dictators to mount an assault on democracy. Statutory Instrument 225A effectively banning by-elections in Zimbabwe is living proof of it. Mnangagwa is lifting restrictions in other areas, but not in elections,” said Dr Alex Magaisa, a political commentator.

Electoral lobby group, Elections Resouce Centre said the independence of ZEC had been tempered with something they said was worrying.

The Minister of Health has suspended by-elections in Zimbabwe for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. The independence of the @ZECzim has been cast into doubt with the Minister of Health now regulating electoral activities,” the organisation said.