SALO Public Dialogue on Zimbabwe – 17 August 2023

The Southern African Liaison Office (SALO) held a virtual, public dialogue looking at the current situation in Zimbabwe in the leadup to the 2023 elections.

Watch here: https://fb.watch/njWWQPir9M/

This week the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government will be held in Luanda, ahead of Zimbabwe’s 2023 harmonised general elections on the 23rd of August. The elections will take place against the backdrop of a spiralling economic crisis and a crackdown on the pro-democracy movement including unprecedented lawfare. At the beginning of the month an opposition Citizens’ Coalition for Change (CCC) activist in Harare was killed, allegedly at the hands of ZANU-PF youths. 

Some regional heads of state and human rights groups such as Amnesty International have called for Zimbabwean authorities to ensure a peaceful environment during the election period and for the government to protect voters’ rights to freedom of expression and assembly. This is increasingly in doubt given the growing violence against opposition activists, the banning of opposition meetings and rallies, as well as ongoing concerns about the voters’ roll and number of polling stations, missed deadlines due to court challenges on the nomination of candidates, and last week’s changes to the Electoral Act regarding postal voting. 

Panellists Included:

Jacob Mafume – Citizens Coalition for Change

Babra Bhebe – Election Resource Centre

Mlungisi Makhanya – PUDEMO President  
Venitia Govender – Human rights activist

Siphosami Malunga – Director of programs- Open Society Africa

Laura Miti – Alliance for Community Action – Zambia Prof. Jethro Mpofu 

This dialogue provides a platform for Southern African voices led by Zimbabweans to analyse the challenges facing Zimbabwe in the lead-up to the election and beyond. Strengthened regional cooperation by an empowered and informed civil society will assist in promoting democratic principles in Southern Africa.