Masvingo Mayoral election - Zimbabwe Election Support Network

1. BackgroundThe 2005 Masvingo mayoral election was necessitated by the expiry of theterm of office of the elected mayor Engineer Alois Chaimiti of the oppositionMovement for Democratic Change (MDC). Mr Chaimiti was sworn into officeafter beating Victoria Primary School headmaster Mr Jacob Chademana ofthe ruling ZANU PF, in the May 2001 election.It is noteworthy that both parties have avoided the contentious and potentiallydivisive primary elections. While the MDC endorsed the incumbent mayor asits representative ZANU PF chose former mayor Mr Partson Muzvidziwa byconsensus. It initially came up with a list of seven potential candidates that itlater downsized to three before its politburo, the party’s supreme decisionmaking organ, picked Mr Muzvidziwa.2. MethodologyThis report is based on reports that were supplied by ZESN members who areresident in the town. It is also based on first hand information from the ZESNsecretariat Field Officer based in Masvingo. It also relied on newspaperreports and these sources are quoted in the report.3. Inspection of the voters’ rollThe voters’ roll lay for inspection for two weeks. The inspection started on the17 th and ended on the 30 th of April 2005. During this period there were 14inspection centers that were dotted throughout the town. According to TheStandard (8 May 2005) the MDC accused ZANU PF of bussing its supportersfrom the rural areas and registered them as voters ahead of the election.ZANU PF rejected these allegations and instead accused the MDC of thisoffence.

5. Voter EducationThe Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) did not carry out any formalvoter education workshops. However it distributed pamphlets through itsmembership. The fliers, which were in English and Shona, emphasized theimportance of local government elections and urged every registered voter toparticipate in the election as a way of enhancing democracy. Besidesinserting advertisements in the newspaper the Zimbabwe ElectoralCommission has been conspicuous by its absence. By the 13 th of May, theday on which the nomination court sat, there were no posters in the town toenlighten the electorate about this election. Instead the posters for the Marchelection were still pasted on walls and trees in the town.6. ConclusionBarring any legal challenges, the Masvingo mayoral election is now waterunder the bridge. One only hopes that the mayor will be allowed to carry outhis responsibilities of delivering service to the people of Masvingo. Only timewill tell whether the Minister of Local Government, the vindictive IgnatiusChombo, will not be tempted to wield his excessive powers and replace themayor with a commission.