On Human Rights Day, election watchdog highlights structural discrimination as a direct threat to inclusive electoral participation.
By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
HARARE — As the world marks International Human Rights Day, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) has issued a pointed call for the dismantling of systemic barriers that prevent women, youth, and persons with disabilities from fully participating in the nation’s democratic processes.
This year’s theme, “Human Rights: Our Everyday Essentials,” was framed by the election watchdog not as a vague ideal, but as a practical demand for equitable access to the ballot box, the candidate’s podium, and the observer’s seat.
“Human rights are the foundation of a meaningful democracy. This means every Zimbabwean woman and man, every youth, and every person with disabilities must be able to engage freely as voters, observers, candidates, and civic actors,” said ZESN in its commemorative statement.
The network emphasized that rights such as participation are “daily necessities” that are currently compromised by structural discrimination.
The statement shines a light on the often-overlooked practical hurdles: polling stations inaccessible to wheelchairs, a lack of Braille or assisted voting materials, societal and political violence that disproportionately targets women candidates, and economic barriers that lock out the youth from running for office.
“Democracy is weakened when entire segments of our society are sidelined not by choice, but by design,” said a Harare-based disability rights activist, who preferred anonymity.
“When a person in a wheelchair cannot enter a polling station, or a woman fears violence for her political affiliation, their human rights are not everyday essentials—they are daily denials.”
ZESN’s call urges government, parliament, and political parties to move beyond rhetoric and enact concrete policies and practices that actively prevent this disenfranchisement.
This includes enforcing quotas, ensuring physical and informational accessibility, and creating safer environments for political engagement.
The commemoration comes as Zimbabwe remains bound by regional frameworks like the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, which expressly advocate for the equal participation of all citizens.
Advocates argue that until these barriers fall, the nation’s democratic promise will remain unfulfilled for millions.
About Author
