HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa reappointed Justice Priscilla Chigumba as head of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission on Friday, sidestepping widespread criticism of her time in the role by the opposition and foreign election observer missions.
In a letter to Chigumba, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Martin Rushwaya said Chigumba’s re-appointment is with effect from February 1, 2024.
“I am pleased to announce that His Excellency the President of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa has in terms of section 238 (5) of the constitution of Zimbabwe Act 2023 reappointed you as the chair of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission for a period of six years with effect from February 1, 2024,” wrote Rushwaya.
Chigumba, first appointed to the post in 2018, has supervised two general elections – the first in 2018 and in 2023.
Following last year’s polls, several observer missions accused ZEC of missing opportunities to increase public trust in the integrity of voting and its results management.
The European Union suspended its US$5 million for ZEC following the election which SADC said “failed to meet regional and international standards on democratic elections.”
ZEC was accused of sending ballot papers late to opposition strongholds and refusing to publish polling-station based results on its website.
The controversial election, dismissed as a sham by the opposition, saw Mnangagwa re-elected for a second term.
