CCC leader Nelson Chamisa has criticized President Emmerson Mnangagwa for failing to announce an election date as required by law, saying it inhibits planning and gives ZANU-PF an unfair advantage. Zimbabwe’s Electoral Act requires the president to proclaim an election date after consulting the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
Chamisa accused Mnangagwa of acting as “referee, match commissioner and regulatory authority” by keeping the nation in suspense. He argued “national affairs and people’s lives cannot be run on ad hoc basis upon guesswork.” Chamisa said Kenya announced its 2027 election date years in advance, calling it “good governance” compared to Zimbabwe’s “unilateralism.”
The opposition leader believes electoral reforms should have been completed earlier but remain important to ensure a legitimate election. However, he slammed the delay in finalizing the Electoral Amendment Bill, questioning if it’s a ploy to delay polls.
When asked about next steps if Mnangagwa remains silent, Chamisa replied “Everyone is in the dark, except for Mr Mnangagwa and possibly his colleagues in Zanu PF. That is not a desirable framework…That must definitely change and the law must change on that.”
