Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe (WCoZ) has demanded that the Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) respects the constitution in election processes.

Development Diaries reports that WCoZ is demanding that ZEC adheres to the constitution of Zimbabwe and uphold due process in relation to the administration of the 2023 general election.

The coalition had expressed deep concerns regarding the latest Statutory Instrument 114 of 2023, which, it argues, is in violation of the constitution.

WCoZ noted that the inclusion of the word ‘persons’ instead of ‘women’ in the document modifies the provisions of Amendment Two of 2021, thereby amending the constitution rather than merely correcting it.

The coalition highlighted that any amendment to the constitution must follow the established procedure outlined in section 328 of the constitution.

It also stated that ZEC has violated the constitution and posed challenges and infringements on the rights of women by the electorate.

‘The country cannot have a constitution in place and still have public institutions acting unconstitutionally’, WCoZ stated.

According to UN Women, despite Zimbabwe’s adoption of a constitution that provides an equal representation of women and men in all positions, women’s participation in leadership and politics remains low at 35 percent in parliament, 16 percent in local government, and 11.5 percent in cabinet.

Photo source: WCoZ