What does the law say about candidate conduct on eve of elections? - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
July 30, 2018
ZIMBABWE Electoral Commission chairperson Priscilla Chigumba announced that her organ had reported two presidential candidates to the police for violating rules not to canvass for votes within 24 hours of polling.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa and MDC Alliance leader Nelson Chamisa both made statements on Sunday, which seemed to violate this law.
Mnangagwa released a video responding to what he termed an alliance between Chamisa and former President Robert Mugabe. Chamisa, on the other hand, held a press conference at which he said Mugabe’s announcement that he would vote against Mnangagwa and ZANU-PF confirmed the current president’s lack of popular support.
What does the law say regarding canvassing?
According to section 7(1) (b) of the Electoral Code of Conduct, parties or candidates are not allowed to “publish, or cause or permit the publication, of any advertisement or statement promoting or opposing a particular party or candidate” within 24 hours of polling day.
Fact sheet compiled by ZimFact team.