Zimbabwe elections to be held between 27 July and 26 August 2023, but they can be held earlier if……………….

Consequences of an Early Election

Some things would need to be sorted out if there were an early general election.

Voters Rolls

Voters rolls are closed two days after the publication of a proclamation calling a general election (section 26A of the Electoral Act) and the nomination of candidates must take place between two and three weeks after the proclamation (section 38(1)(a)(i) of the Act).  During that period between the closing of the rolls and nomination day the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission [ZEC] has to publish the voters rolls to be used in the election.

If an early general election were called suddenly without advance warning, ZEC might not be able to publish the rolls in time.

Delimitation

ZEC is currently conducting a delimitation exercise which must be held every 10 years.  An early general election might mean that the current delimitation is hurried or dispensed with entirely.

In any event, under section 161 of the Constitution, delimitation needs to be completed at least six months before polling day in an election if the newly-delimited constituency and ward boundaries are to be used in the election.  So if an election were to be called early next year the existing – i.e. pre-delimitation – electoral boundaries would be used.

Conclusion

The Constitution obviously favours the holding of general elections at regular five-yearly intervals and makes it difficult for a government or ruling party to call elections early or at short notice.

Hence an early election is unlikely, but as we have shown it is by no means impossible.

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