The Impact of the Composition and Staffing of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission on its Performance

Authors

  • Petty Makoni Zimbabwe Electoral Commission

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25159/0256-8845/3273

Keywords:

Commission, commissioners, constitution, democratic, elections, electoral, EMB (electoral management body), meetings, staff, training, management, ZEC (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission), Zimbabwe

Abstract

This article seeks to provide insight into the trends in appointment, composition and function of the Commissioners of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and its staff, depicting the impact of the changes experienced on its mandate. It articulates the legislative support to responses that necessitated the change from being a typically governmental then mixed model to an Independent Electoral Management Body (EMB), conforming to the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections in a bid to ensure transparency and integrity in managing elections. It explores the competencies of the EMB in executing its mandate. The article also identifies how the knowledge gap in electoral processes continues to be minimised by capacity building; a leadership that resonates and a mission that seeks to be informed by regional and international best practice.

References

Constitution of Zimbabwe. 2013. Harare: Printflow (Private) Limited.

Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13]. 2013. Harare: Printflow (Private) Limited.

Electoral Management Bodies Capacity Building. 2008. Findings from assessing 6 SADC Countries, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia, Madagascar and Botswana. ACE Electoral Knowledge Network.

IDEA. 2009. Electoral Management Design: The International IDEA Handbook. International SE – 103 34 Stockholm, Sweden.

Motsamai, D. 2010. The European Union electoral assistance: perceptions of African democracy building. International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA). Stockholm. Sweden.

The Ministry of Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs. 2008. Harare: ‘The Global Political Agreement’. Harare: Government Printers

SADC. 2004. SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections. http://www. sokwanele.com/documents/sadc-principles-and-guidelines

Southern African Development Community (SADC). 2004. Principles for Election Management, Monitoring and Observation in the SADC Region. Johannesburg: EISA.

Southern African Gender Protocol. 2013:33 Barometer Zimbabwe. Johannesburg, SA: Gender Links.

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Structure. http://www.zec.gov.zw.

Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. 2010. Manual for Commissioners. (Unpublished).

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Published

2017-10-06

How to Cite

Makoni, Petty. 2014. “The Impact of the Composition and Staffing of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission on Its Performance”. Politeia 33 (3):20-43. https://doi.org/10.25159/0256-8845/3273.

Issue

Section

Articles