Suspending The 2023 Elections A Threat To Zimbabwe's Democracy - ERC
The Election Resource Centre (ERC) has warned that suspending the 2023 general elections which should be held no later than 26 August 2023 will be a major threat to Zimbabwe’s democracy.
In a statement issued this Wednesday, ERC said they have noted increased calls by certain electoral stakeholders calling for the suspension of the 2023 harmonised elections.
ERC said the Constitution of Zimbabwe makes it clear that elections should be conducted every five years, and the term of office of elected government officers is strictly five years. Reads the statement:
The ERC notes this statement in light of increased calls by certain electoral stakeholders calling for the suspension of the 2023 Harmonised Elections. Elections are central to Zimbabwe’s democracy.
Through elections, the fundamental right of every citizen to political participation is realised and elections guarantee the philosophical-political principle of democracy (people’s power).
Suspending elections would be a clear violation of the rights of Zimbabweans to participate in the democratic process and would be a step away from democratic accountability and has the potential to lead to political instability.
Suspending elections denotes a move away from the hard deadline spelled out in the Constitution where the terms of office of elected officials end on 26 August 2023. This is a threat to Zimbabwe’s constitutional democracy.
Should the elections get suspended, this could lead Zimbabwe to legal lacuna as there is no extension provision regarding terms of office.
Additionally, the ERC would like to reiterate and make it clear that the Constitution is explicit and peremptory in that, where the delimitation report is not completed six months before an election, or where it is deemed unconstitutional, the old boundaries ought to apply for that election and does not envision a suspension of elections.
The constitution makes it clear that power should be acquired only through a periodic election conducted every five years, and the term of office of elected government officers is strictly five years.
There is no legal basis that will allow the current government to legitimately remain in power post-26 August 2023, therefore any proposed suspension of the 2023 Harmonised Elections poses a threat to Zimbabwe’s democracy.
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