The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has published the following statement in which they clarified the suspension of by-elections and said they will only be conducted when the threat posed by the COVID-19 pandemic has completely vanished.

ZEC also said the filling of the proportional representation in parliament that saw Thokozani Khupe and her allies being sworn in in parliament yesterday after she recalled the MPs she replaced, did not receive any valid objections.

Read the statement below:

Further Suspension of By-Elections The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) would like to Inform the public that, while it has lifted the suspen-sion placed on the conduct of electoral activities which it had put In place as a measure to curb the spread of CovId-19, it Is important for It to heed advice from the necessary authorities and take the necessary precau-tions to avoid the spread of the virus. The Commission thus advises that the holding of by-elections remains suspended in line with the Public Health (Covid-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment) (Amendment) Regulations, 2020 (No. 4) being S.I. 225A of 2020, until the declaration of Ccrvid-19 as a formidable pandemic has been lifted. Please be advised that the conduct of other electoral activities will resume in line with the Ministry of Health and Child Care protocols as well as the guidelines established by the Commission on saniti-zadon, wearing of face masks and social distancing.

Regarding the filling in of Proportional Representation (PR) seats, the Commission received several objections but found that there were no valid grounds for objecting to the list of submitted candidates. The Commission therefore, proc.ed to publish a notice in the Gazette confirming the nominations as provided for in section 39(7)(a)of the Electoral A.

The Commission would like to advise Its stakeholders that Its district and provincial offices will be open for all other electoral activities such as:
Voter registration Voter education Voters’ roll inspection Registration transfer Prellmthary delimitation Issues.

ZEC would like to sincerely thank all its stakeholders for exercising patience and understanding in the face of the global pandemic which Is an Act of God.

U Silaigwana

Chief Elections Officer

ZIMBABWE ELECTORAL COMMISSION