The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has announced the suspension of by-elections for the national assembly or local authority for vacancies that will arise from November 1, 2022 in line with Section 158 (3) of the Constitution which prohibits by-elections, nine months before a general election.
In a statement, ZEC chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba said should a vacancy arise on or after the 1st of November polling will be conducted during the 2023 harmonised elections as provided for by the Constitution.
“Section 158 (3) of the Constitution provides that polling in by elections shall take place within ninety days of the vacancies occurring unless the vacancies occur within nine months before a general election is due to be held.
“The last general election held in 2018 was held on the 31st July 2018 it is therefore anticipated from a reading of section 158 (3) of the Constitution that general elections will be held on a date to be set during the month of either July or August 2023. Members of the public are thus notified that the filling of vacancies that occur on or after the 1st of November 2022 will be suspended pending conduct of 2023 general elections,” said Justice Chigumba.
The announcement comes at a time the MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora has been recalling Members of Parliament and Councillors who pay allegiance to the rival opposition Citizens Coalition for Change led by Nelson Chamisa.
It remains to be seen if more recalls will be effected after the 1st of November 2022 with the last recalls have taken place recently when eleven councillors from Victoria Falls, Gweru and Binga were recalled for supporting Chamisa’s party.
