ZEC shuts off spokesperson Jasper Mangwana for discarding Chigumba

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has suspended its commissioner Jasper Mangwana from operating as its spokesperson, seemingly as punishment for refusing to append his signatures to the electoral body’s delimitation report gazetted by President Emmerson Mnangagwa on the 20th of February.

Mangwana together with his colleagues, commissioners Rosewita Murutare, Kudzai Shava, Jane Mbetu-Nzvenga, Shepherd Manhivi, Abigail Mohadi and Catherine Mpofu wrote to Mnangagwa and Parliament accusing the electoral body chairperson, Justice Priscilla Chigumba and her deputy, Rodney Simukai Kiwa of unilaterally imposing the draft delimitation report on the electoral body, resulting in them disowning the whole process.

Interestingly, ZEC on Thursday released a statement saying the commission’s chairperson Justice Chigumba, her deputy Ambassador Rodney Kiwa and Chief Elections Officer Utoile Silaigwana were solely responsible for the communication affairs of the electoral management body.

Before, Mangwana was the spokesperson of ZEC and Nehanda Radio used to contact him for matters regarding the commission.

“In terms of the Electoral Act and by operation of law and virtue of condition of service, oath of office and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) Public Relations and Communication Policy of 2020, the following are the three officials statutorily designated to be spokespersons of (ZEC):

“a) Chairperson Honourable Justice P M Chigumba b) Deputy Chairperson Ambassador R Kiwa

“c) Chief Elections Officer, Mr U Silaigwana.

“In light of the above, members of the public and the electorate are hereby advised that with effect from 20 February 2023 the above mentioned three people are the exclusive spokespersons of ZEC,” read the statement.

“The public is further advised that in terms of the ZEC Communication Policy, questions, queries and requests for interviews should be directed to:

“The Chief Elections Officer Mahachi Quantum Building Cnr J Moyo Ave and Kaguvi St P Bag 7782 Causeway/Harare.”

Contacted for a comment, Mangwana laughingly said: “Just get in touch with the announced spokespersons.”