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Transcript/ScriptTITLE: RAW ZIMBABWE ELECTION VIDI33RC2QL
HEADLINE: Zimbabwean Electoral Commission is 'ready to conduct the 2023 harmonised elections'
COMMENT: - Priscilla Chigumba, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Chairperson
KEYWORDS: Priscilla Chigumba, ZWE, Harare Province, Harare
DESCRIPTION: Zimbabwe's Electoral Commission (ZEC) holds an observers briefing ahead of the 2023 elections next week. "The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is not influenced by government, individuals or any other organisations as sometimes alleged" affirms Priscilla Chigumba, the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission's Chairperson, before adding that the commission is "ready to conduct the 2023 harmonised elections", following successful voter registrations initiatives. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES
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SHOTLIST
HARARE, HARARE PROVINCE, ZIMBABWE
AUGUST 16, 2023
SOURCE: AFPTV
IMAGES (01:01)
1. Wide shot observers at the electoral commission's observer briefing
2. Close-up elections banner
3. Mid shot observers at the electoral commission's observer briefing
4. Close-up observer at the electoral commission's observer briefing, listening
5. Mid shot camera
6. Close-up Zimbabwe Electoral Commission banner
7. Mid shot observers at the electoral commission's observer briefing
8. Close-up police commissioner
9. Mid shot observers at the electoral commission's observer briefing
10. Close-up commissioners listening, shot through the screen on a camera
11. SOUNDBITE 1 - Priscilla Chigumba, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Chairperson (female, English, 26 sec):
"The voter registration exercise provided an opportunity for new registrants to register and for others to transfer from one polling station to another. Over 450 000 people were registered during the exercise bringing the total voter population for the forthcoming election to 6 623 511 voters."
12. SOUNDBITE 2 - Priscilla Chigumba, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Chairperson (female, English, 18 sec):
"In its operations, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is not influenced by government, individuals or any other organisations as sometimes alleged. Section 235 of the constitution of Zimbabwe guarantees the commission’s independence."
13. SOUNDBITE 3 - Priscilla Chigumba, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission Chairperson (female, English, 9 sec):
"I would like to inform you that the commission is ready to conduct the 2023 harmonised elections."
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AFP TEXT STORY:
Zimbabwe's ruling party vows no repeat of violence as vote looms
Johannesburg, Aug 10, 2023 (AFP) -
With less than two weeks before a tense general election, Zimbabwe's governing party on Thursday vowed not to deploy the army to quell potential protests -- a move that proved deadly at the last elections.
The army killed six people after it was called in to quell demonstrations after the disputed vote in 2018.
"I can assure you that if ever such a situation arose you are not likely to see a prompt recourse to the army," ZANU-PF spokesman Christopher Mutsvangwa said at a pre-election debate in Johannesburg.
Mutsvangwa said in 2018 that the army was deployed because the police were "not well trained".
But training has since been addressed, and "We learn from our mistakes", he told the roundtable organised by London-based think tank Chatham House.
Zimbabweans will head to the polls on August 23 to elect the president and legislature.
The presidential race is largely a rematch between the 2018 leading contestants -- President Emmerson Mnangagwa of ZANU-PF and Nelson Chamisa, a 45-year-old lawyer who heads the country's largest opposition party, the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
The run-up to the vote has been marked by a crackdown on dissent and suspicions over possible irregularities.
The debate was also attended by representatives of four opposition parties, who accused ZANU-PF of fomenting violence and instilling fear among the opposition.
Elections in Zimbabwe are "an extreme sport", said Mthulisi Hanana, secretary-general of the ZAPU party.
ZANU-PF officials preach "peace during the day and unleash violence during the night. The default settings of ZANU-PF is when they have run out of ideas... they kill," he said.
The CCC alleged last week that one of its members was stoned to death by ZANU-PF supporters in an ambush on the way to a rally in Harare.
Mutsvangwa said the party condemned the "heinous crime", adding that police were investigating the killing "without fear or favour".
"ZANU-PF does not sit as a party" to plan to "murder" anyone, he said.
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