Opposition political parties in Zimbabwe have welcomed a proposal from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to require all political parties to be legally registered through an amendment to the Electoral Act.
Under the current law, political parties only need to inform the ZEC of their existence without going through a formal registration process.
In an interview this week, ZEC Chief Elections Officer Utloile Silaigwana said the registration of political parties was one of the recommendations made during the recently concluded annual conference. Said Silaigwana (via <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200033111/zec-pushes-for-political-party-registration">NewsDay</a>):
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The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission would like to express its gratitude to stakeholders for the successful conduct of the post-2023 harmonised elections review conference in Nyanga recently.
The goal of the conference was to reflect on the 2023 harmonised elections in order to adequately prepare for the 2028 electoral cycle. The overarching guiding questions at the conference interrogated what worked well and what did not.
The conference came up with recommendations to improve the legal framework governing the country’s elections and the administrative framework.
It is hoped that these recommendations, including the one that seeks the registration and regulation of political parties become part of the electoral law.
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Promise Mkwananzi, the spokesperson for one of the three factions of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), said the registration of parties would assist in resolving disputes regarding the leadership of political parties. He said:
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We await the proposed modalities. What we want is an enabling environment for multiparty democracy and an end to stealing [Nelson] Chamisa’s parties by ZANU PF stooges and mercenaries.
All MPs and councillors elected through Chamisa’s ticket must be answerable to Chamisa’s party and the political finance due to him and his party must be duly disbursed to him and his party.
If the registration achieves this end and removes any chance for the masquerades, then it will be desirable. 
What we do not want is a registration process that seeks to stifle rather than facilitate multipartysm, that gives political parties the latitude to define their own internal democracy and systems not prescribe for them or seek to impose or influence who their leaders will be and how they should lead.
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Lloyd Damba, the spokesperson for Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) president Douglas Mwonzora, said there is nothing objectionable about the registration of political parties. He said:
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In other countries within Africa, we have similar laws that require the registration of political parties, in particular Kenya. They have their reasons for that and I do not see anything wrong with that particular move.
It becomes sinister when a body that is not mandated by any law to advocate for the registration of political parties when its duties are clearly stipulated in the Constitution [sic].
They want politics to be a game of the rich in particular those that are looting mineral resources and tenderprenuers.
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Meanwhile, Silaigwana urged Zimbabweans to move past the 2023 harmonised elections and concentrate on the upcoming 2024-28 electoral cycle.
He said those with grievances should seek resolution through appropriate channels, such as Parliament and the courts, while the commission maintains its right to address any serious allegations made against it.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

Opposition parties in Zimbabwe are happy about a new rule that says all political parties need to be officially registered. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission made this proposal after a conference to discuss how to improve elections. Some parties are excited about this because it will help prevent disputes over leadership and party money. Others think it's a good idea because many other countries have similar rules. Now, the focus is on preparing for future elections and resolving any issues properly. If anyone has concerns, they should use the right channels to resolve them.

Opposition Endorses ZEC's Proposal For Party Registration

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairperson, Justice Priscilla Makanyara Chigumba, has called for the mandatory registration of political parties to prevent a recurrence of issues experienced during the 2023 harmonised elections.
In the run-up to the polls, electoral courts were inundated with a high volume of cases where candidates challenged the rejection of their nomination papers.
Chigumba stated that the Electoral Act should be amended to make it compulsory for all political parties to be formally registered with the authorities.
Alternatively, Chigumba suggested that there should be a cap on the timeframe within which candidates can appeal their candidature before elections, even in the absence of a party registration requirement.
The ZEC chairperson made these comments during a joint induction workshop of the Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee and the Thematic Committee on Human Rights, which was held in Bulawayo over the weekend. She said (via <a href="https://www.herald.co.zw/parties-should-be-registered-justice-chigumba/">The Herald</a>):
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To solve the chaos around the nomination process, I made two recommendations: to register political parties or give time limits on electoral court challenges.
This means the electoral court will not accept any court challenges 30 days before election day.
The problem in Zimbabwe, as part of the electoral law, is that we have no legislation on the registration of political parties.
What we have are individuals notifying ZEC that they have established a political party and requesting to be added to the database.
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Chigumba argued that the lack of mandatory political party registration in Zimbabwe has led to a concerning lack of accountability.
She explained that when individuals make decisions on behalf of a political grouping, there is no clear entity that can be held responsible.
In contrast, Chigumba noted that in many other countries, political parties are required to register, similar to how companies are registered.
This, she said, makes these political entities more accountable, as they risk being deregistered if they fail to adhere to the necessary regulations and standards. Said Chugumba:
<blockquote>
There is no political will to register political parties. It is only at the Nomination Court where ZEC has an opportunity to legally engage political parties.
During the Nomination Court process, you find a lot of chaos around the nomination procedure because this is where candidates comply with laid-down procedures.
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More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The chairperson of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission wants all political parties to be forced to register with the government. This will stop problems like candidates challenging their rejection during elections. She also suggests having a deadline for court challenges before elections. In other countries, political parties have to register like companies, making them more responsible. Without registration, it's hard to hold parties accountable for their actions. The lack of registration causes chaos during elections in Zimbabwe. The chairperson believes that registering parties will help improve the election process.

Chigumba Calls For Compulsory Political Party Registration

ZANU PF and the MDC Alliance led by Douglas Mwonzora have been given ZWL$1.5 billion by Treasury under the Political Parties Finance Act.
The money will be shared between the two political parties based on the number of seats each party won in the National Assembly and the percentage of votes obtained in the 2018 elections.
According to a notice published in the Government Gazette recently, ZANU PF will get $1 050 450 000, while the MDC Alliance will get $449 550 000.
Part of the notice, which was published in the Government Gazette by the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi, reads:
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Disbursement of Money to Registered Political Parties it is hereby notified, in terms of section 3(2) of the Political Parties (Finance) Act (Chapter 2:11), that the total amount of money payable to political parties in respect of the year beginning 1st January 2023, and ending on the 31st December 2023, is one billion five hundred million dollars only.
The money shall be disbursed to political parties that qualify in terms of section 3(3) of the Act as follows: one billion, fifty million four hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($ 1 050 450 000,00), shall be paid to the Zimbabwe African National Union (Patriotic Front) Zanu PF which received 70.03 percent of the votes cast; and $449 550 000, shall be paid to the Movement for Democratic Change-Alliance (MDC-A), which received 29.97 percent of the total votes cast.
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The Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) led by Nelson Chamisa currently does not receive funding from the government under the Political Parties Finance Act because it did not participate in the 2018 general elections.
CCC was formed in early 2022 after Mwonzora wrestled control of the MDC Alliance and declared that no other party was allowed to use the name MDC or its derivatives in any election.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Douglas Mwonzora's MDC Receives $500 Million From Treasury

The United Kingdom says it does not support or fund any political party in Zimbabwe and has no view on who should win the 2023 general elections.
The British Embassy in Harare on Wednesday released a statement stating its position on the matter.
It also called for an environment that allows all political parties to campaign freely and peacefully, without violence and intimidation. Reads the statement:
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The UK does not support or fund any political party in Zimbabwe. We have no view on who should win next year’s elections; that is for Zimbabwean voters to decide. We talk to the Government and to all political parties.
Zimbabwe’s constitution provides for an election process where all political parties are allowed to campaign freely and peacefully, without violence and intimidation, and where voters can vote for the party and the candidates of their choice, without fear of reprisals.
Fulfilling these conditions will allow Zimbabweans to have full confidence in their electoral process.
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In Zimbabwe, the Political Parties (Finances) Act [Chapter 2:11] of 2001 prohibits foreign donations to political parties or individual candidates.

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