By Kelvin Wilson Kasiwulaya
Zimbabwe’s leading electoral watchdog has called for urgent measures to boost voter education and reinforce electoral ethics after the Glen View South by-election held on April 12.
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), which observed the by-election in line with its mandate to promote democratic and credible elections, said the poll proceeded without major incidents but exposed troubling signs of voter apathy and declining participation in mid-cycle elections.
In its preliminary statement released after the vote, ZESN highlighted that turnout was significantly lower than during the 2023 general elections. While ZANU-PF candidate Tsitsi Tawomhera won the seat with 3,404 votes—an increase from 3,112 in 2023—the main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) did not field a candidate. In 2023, CCC had secured over 15,000 votes in the constituency.
“It would appear as if the majority of CCC supporters stayed away from the by-election,” ZESN reported. “The few that turned out to vote during this by-election divided their vote among the three independent candidates.”
ZESN’s concluding assessment drew attention to systemic and behavioural factors contributing to voter apathy and urged stakeholders to act decisively to restore confidence in the electoral process.
“The turnout during the by-elections clearly indicates that voters seem to have less interest in by-elections,” the organisation said. “Political parties should make efforts to increase the political literacy of their supporters so as to raise the level of interest in local authority elections.”
The network also recommended practical steps for voters and electoral authorities to enhance election day efficiency. It encouraged citizens to take advantage of voter roll displays at polling stations to confirm their registration and assigned polling locations ahead of future elections.
“Voters are encouraged to inspect the voters’ roll whenever it is posted outside polling stations, ahead of an election or by-election,” ZESN stated, “to allow for the identification of the polling stations they are supposed to cast their vote in.”
ZESN acknowledged efforts made toward gender inclusivity, commending both the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) and ZANU-PF for fielding female candidates.
“The Network acknowledges and commends NCA and ZANU-PF for fielding female candidates in the by-election, a step towards addressing the marginalisation of women within Zimbabwean political participation,” the statement read.
The network further appealed to political parties to uphold the electoral code of conduct, calling for restraint and respectful campaigning in future contests.
“Political parties are urged to restrain their supporters from campaigning in a manner that infringes on the code of conduct for political parties and electoral contestants,” ZESN added.
As Zimbabwe gears up for future electoral events, the Glen View South by-election has served as a reminder of the importance of sustained voter engagement, inclusive representation, and accountability in strengthening democratic institutions.