Resist, Reject and Report Violence, #RRRV2023
Zanu PF primary Elections Analysis
The Zanu PF primary elections were held on 25 – 26 March 2023, to elect representatives for the the Senate, Member
of Parliament, Local Authority, the Women and Youth quotas. ZPP meticulously observed the procedures and noted
the following issues:
Uncontested posts
The 2023 Zanu PF primary elections were referred to as a democratic process to select candidates for the
harmonised elections. According to the state media, several candidates were uncontested and these included Zanu
PF national chairperson, Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Monica Mutsvangwa (Senator, Zimunya/Marange); Politburo
deputy secretary for administration, Mike Nyambuya (Senator, Mutasa); Central Committee member, Hubert
Nyanhongo (Senator, Nyanga); William Mutomba (Senator, Buhera) and Thembinkosi Chiororo (Senator,
Chimanimani). Other bigwigs that were not to be subjected to primary elections included Local Government minister
July Moyo, Minister of State in the President’s Office in Charge of Policy Implementation Joram Gumbo and former
State Security minister Owen “Mudha” Ncube, who is eyeing the Gokwe-Kana constituency. Some posts were ringfenced for others which begs the question as to whether these primary elections were democratic or not and why
certain positions were contested while others were not.
Lack of Women’s Participation
The Zanu PF primary election outcomes demonstrate how women's political participation remains limited. In many
provinces, such as Mashonaland West and Manicaland, the number of women elected to stand for House of Assembly
does not exceed 25%. Although the National Elections Directorate stated that amongst the competing candidates
there should be 3 men and 3 women, this was not the case. Male candidates outweighed female candidates in the
primary elections except on the Women’s Quota where 60 positions were distributed at six per province. ZPP notes
with concern the low levels of participation of women in the primary elections; despite appeals to Zanu PF to ensure
their lists of contestants in the primary elections included women, young women and women with disabilities in
significant numbers. Various progressive laws support the participation of women in politics including the
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and UN Resolution 1325.
MARCH 2023
The Zimbabwe Peace Project Monthly Monitoring Report
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