President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday broke his silence before he left the country for Malawi as he proclaimed the 23rd of August 2023 as the day for general elections in Zimbabwe.

Members of the public will have an opportunity to elect, members of the Council, Parliament and the President of the country.

President Mnangagwa said the Nomination Court will sit on 21 June to register election candidates.

He further said the 2nd of October 2023 is the date for a run-off for the election of the office of the President if such a poll becomes necessary in terms of Section 38(1)(a)(iii) of the Electoral Act.

Proclamation 4 of 2023 is contained in Statutory Instrument 85 of 2023 published in the Government Gazette on Wednesday, 31 May,  and reads in part:

“His Excellency the Honourable Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, President of Zimbabwe and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces of Zimbabwe; whereas, section 143(1) of the Constitution, provides that Parliament is elected for a five-year term which runs from the date on which the President-elect is sworn in and assumes office in terms of section 94(1)(a) of the Constitution;

Whereas after the last election, the President was sworn in on the 26th day of August 2018, and the five-year period ends on the 25th day of August 2023; fix the 23rd day of August 2023, as the day of the election to the office of President, the election of members of the National Assembly and the election of councillors, that is to say, as the day on which a poll shall be taken if a poll becomes necessary in terms of section 46(17)(c) or 125(4)(b) of the Electoral Act [Chapter 2:13] for the election to the office of President or any such members of the National Assembly or councillors; and fix the 2nd day of October 2023, as the day of the runoff election to the office of President, that is to say as the day on which a poll shall be taken if such a poll becomes necessary in terms of section 38(1)(a)(iii) of the Electoral Act.”

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) opened the voters’ roll to the public for inspection. The process ends on 01 June 2023.

However, a number of members of the public from across the country have found their names missing from the voters’ roll.

Prospective voters can still register at the usual places but the voters’ roll will be closed for registration two days after the proclamation of the election date.