Efforts to End Recall Law Exploitation Intensify

The Zimbabwe Electoral Support Network (Zesn) is raising the alarm over potential misuse of the country’s recall laws, pushing for stricter frameworks to regulate political parties.

According to Zesn, the absence of robust oversight mechanisms is causing persistent party conflicts and a volatile political environment in Zimbabwe, undermining trust in party leadership.

Recently, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) announced its proposal to amend the Electoral Act, intending to mandate the registration of political parties as a way to introduce accountability.

Zesn argues that this regulatory gap has enabled individuals to exploit the recall provision, manipulating it for personal gains rather than party accountability.

The recall law has a history of controversy, with Zesn noting that it often impacts party democracy negatively, leaving Zimbabweans questioning its role in politics.

Zesn’s position paper emphasizes how recall abuse for personal gain has led to voter disinterest, low turnout in by-elections, and frustration among citizens over the integrity of their votes.

The organization suggests that reforming recall legislation, alongside political party registration, could strengthen accountability and foster democratic values within Zimbabwe’s political structures.

According to section 129(1)(k) of Zimbabwe’s Constitution, political parties have the authority to remove elected representatives from office through a recall request to the Speaker of Parliament.

The high-profile example of Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu using recalls last year, allegedly to consolidate power, highlights the law’s potential for misuse.

These recalls, some observers say, allowed the ruling Zanu PF to gain a two-thirds majority in Parliament through a series of by-elections that followed.

Political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya has weighed in on the recall law’s problematic application, stressing the importance of aligning recalls with the wishes of constituents rather than party officials.

Ngwenya further suggests that recall processes must be transparent and recorded publicly to ensure legitimacy and discourage partisan manipulation.

He advocates for recall decisions to be driven by resolutions from voters themselves rather than central committees, a move that could boost public trust in the process.

Another political analyst, Effie Ncube, warns that regulating parties could backfire, potentially stifling democratic voices and limiting opposition, raising concerns about freedom in Zimbabwe’s political landscape.

Ncube also supports reforms to the recall law but advises that regulations must be implemented cautiously to avoid clamping down on dissent.

Promise Mkwanazi, CCC’s spokesperson, also voiced his support for recall law reform, stressing that regulation should foster transparency and safeguard against party infiltrators and power-hungry individuals.

Mkwanazi reflects on Zimbabwe’s political past, recalling how the Mugabe-Tsvangirai era saw clearer leadership roles, with fewer opportunistic takeovers or manipulations within political parties.

He believes that true reform must restore recall power to Zimbabwean citizens, ensuring that their votes remain meaningful and representatives remain accountable to them.

To address the recall law’s issues, Mkwanazi argues, Zimbabwe must return to the law’s original intent—empowering citizens, not party elites, to hold officeholders accountable.