The Impact of the Composition and Staffing of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission on its Performance

This article seeks to provide insight into the trends in appointment, composition and function of the Commissioners of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and its staff, depicting the impact of the changes experienced on its mandate. It articulates the legislative support to responses that necessitated the change from being a typically governmental then mixed model to an Independent Electoral Management Body (EMB), conforming to the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections in a bid to ensure transparency and integrity in managing elections. It explores the competencies of the EMB in executing its mandate. The article also identifies how the knowledge gap in electoral processes continues to be minimised by capacity building; a leadership that resonates and a mission that seeks to be informed by regional and international best practice.