As Zimbabwe heads toward the 2023 general elections, a dark shadow looms over the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). Growing mistrust in the electoral body’s independence has cast serious doubt on the fairness of the entire process. For many Zimbabweans, the right to vote now feels more like a privilege denied than a guarantee of democracy.

At the heart of the crisis is ZEC’s failure to operate as an independent, impartial institution. Instead of being a neutral referee, ZEC is seen by many as an extension of the ruling ZANU PF party. The appointment of individuals with close ties to the regime has undermined public trust. Their loyalty to the government, rather than to the people, is now on full display.

This distrust has been further fueled by disturbing reports from across the country: thousands of voters cannot find their names on the voters’ roll. These are not first-time registrants. They include citizens who have voted in past elections—people who followed the law, registered on time, and expected to cast their ballots like every other democratic citizen.

Instead, many showed up to inspect the roll only to find their names had vanished. Others were moved to different wards or polling stations without notification. For a nation still struggling to recover from decades of electoral manipulation, this has sparked outrage.

This is not just administrative failure. It’s disenfranchisement. When the voters’ roll—the backbone of any election—is riddled with errors, manipulated, or selectively altered, democracy itself becomes a casualty.

The implications are grave. Voter suppression is a silent weapon. It doesn’t need violence or intimidation. It quietly removes a citizen’s voice before they even reach the polling booth. When voters are removed without explanation, and when the institution responsible is tied to the ruling party, the conclusion is obvious: the system is rigged.

ZEC’s silence only makes things worse. Rather than take responsibility, they continue to dodge questions and provide vague assurances. Meanwhile, the public grows more frustrated, and the opposition grows more alarmed. Every missing name chips away at the legitimacy of the elections.

This crisis has not gone unnoticed. International observers, including SADC and various Western missions, are closely watching Zimbabwe. Already, there are murmurs that these elections may not meet regional and global standards of transparency. Should this continue, Zimbabwe risks being isolated once again.

The solution is not complex. ZEC must open its doors to full transparency. It must publish the voters’ roll in a timely and accessible manner. It must correct the errors and reinstate every eligible citizen. It must allow independent audits and listen to concerns raised by civil society, opposition parties, and international observers.

But above all, ZEC must regain its independence. As long as the commission is filled with ZANU PF loyalists, it will never be trusted. The people need to know that their votes will count—and that the electoral process is not just theatre for a pre-determined outcome.

Zimbabwe’s democracy is at a breaking point. With elections so close, there is no time left for excuses or cover-ups. ZEC must act decisively to fix this mess and reassure the nation. If it fails, the 2023 elections will not be remembered for change—but for betrayal.

Democracy only works when every voice is heard. Right now, too many voices in Zimbabwe are being erased. It is time to restore them.