Thread by @OpenParlyZw

#Twimboz we are following live proceedings for this week's edition of #TuesdayTalk dubbed “Are we resuming by elections” with @takumandura, our moderator, and our guest speakers Heather Koga from @ZESN1 and Trust Maanda from @ercafrica.

#OpenParlyZw

@takumandura: “Following the relaxation for lockdown regulations, @ZECzim has resumed some electoral activities but continues the suspension of holding by-elections. What does the suspension of by-elections mean now?

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica

Trust Maanda: “We are concerned about that, if other electoral processes have resumed we would have thought that by-elections will also now be held.

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica
@ZECzim

Trust Maanda: “It is a requirement that by-elections be held, once there is a resumption of the electoral processes.”

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica
@ZECzim

Trust Maanda: “By-elections are supposed to be the end result of electoral processes.”

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica
@ZECzim

Trust Maanda: “We urge @ZECzim to resume by-elections because once this is not done, it would raise a perception that @ZECzim chooses what it wants to do within the electoral calendar, and not others which are obligated by the law.”

@ZESN1
@ercafrica

Trust Maanda: “We urge @ZECzim to resume by-elections because once this is not done, it would raise a perception that @ZECzim chooses what it wants to do within the electoral calendar, and not others which are obligated by the law.

@ZESN1
@ercafrica

@takumandura: “Although we are in a pandemic, some countries have held elections and some have not.

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica
@ZECzim

@takumandura: “As Zimbabwe do we have capacity to hold by-elections and are we able to contain the potential spike of Covid-19 related cases since we have suspended some of the restrictive Covid-19 regulations.”

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica
@ZECzim

Trust Maanda: “Yes Zimbabwe is well able to conduct by-elections like any other country.”

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica
@ZECzim

Trust Maanda: “In particular SADC or anywhere else, other countries which had worse Covid-19 situations, worse Covid-19 incidences than Zimbabwe. And we are doing very well in containing the pandemic.

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica
@ZECzim

Trust Maanda: “We are very able to hold elections.”

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica
@ZECzim

Trust Maanda: “Particularly @ZECzim itself was able to put out its Covid-19 policy.

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica

Trust Maanda: “That policy was a very good policy that could allow elections to be held in Zimbabwe without causing a spike in Covid-19 related infections.”

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica
@ZECzim

Trust Maanda: “Particularly also, in view that most of the businesses, markets and institutions are now open.”

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica
@ZECzim

Trust Maanda: “Schools are open, buses are operating, churches are also operating under certain numbers and restrictions.”

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica
@ZECzim

Trust Maanda: “@ZECzim would have been able to put in place certain measures for elections to be held without any fear of the implosion of the pandemic.”

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica

Trust Maanda: “We are not unique, we are like any country and those countries have been able to have those elections. Which are a democratic requirement of citizens to enjoy.”

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica
@ZECzim

@takumandura: “Is there anything citizens can do to conscientise @ZECzim to hold by-elections.”

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica

Trust Maanda: “There are a lot of things citizens can do, they can still raise the issues by way of petitioning @ParliamentZim.”

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica
@ZECzim

Trust Maanda: “They (citizens) can still raise the issues by using the other means of expression that are in the constitution.”

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica
@ZECzim

Trust Maanda: “They (citizens) can still take action by way of going to court. To get at least a court order that deals with the issue of whether suspension of by elections is lawful or not.”

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica
@ZECzim

Trust Maanda: “That has to be done by political parties as well, so there are quite a lot of things that can be done, lobbying, advocacy and raising issues with constituencies.”

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica
@ZECzim

@takumandura: “Mrs Heather Koga, you were facing network challenges earlier, and my first question which I raised is that is the suspension of by-elections justified?”

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica
@ZECzim

Heather Koga: “The continued suspension of by-elections is not justified at all.”

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica
@ZECzim

Heather Koga: “Because as @ZESN1 we are saying this undercuts our democratic principles of freedom of expression, electoral justice, and also curtails parliamentary overbite”

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica
@ZECzim

Heather Koga: “So we are saying as @ZESN1 by-elections should be held.”

#OpenParlyZw
@ercafrica
@ZECzim

Heather Koga: “Elections have been held under Covid-19 and we have plenty of examples to draw from.”

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica
@ZECzim

Heather Koga: “Countries like South Korea, Singapore, closer to home countries like Malawi, South Africa and Tanzania. All those countries have held elections during the Covid-19 pandemic.”

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica
@ZECzim

Heather Koga: “By-elections should be held as soon as possible, if @ZECzim has opened up other electoral activities, there is no reason why by-elections should not be held.”

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica
@ZECzim

Heather Koga: “We just need to follow strict Covid-19 protocols, and also we should give chance to the @ZECzim Covid-19 policy to be implemented.”

#OpenParlyZw
@ZESN1
@ercafrica