Staff Writer
The Electoral Support Network of Southern Africa (ESN-SA) and the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) Election Observer Mission on Friday commended the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) for the well-managed real-time updates on results transmission, which contributed to the overall transparency of the results management process.
In its preliminary statement, the Joint Observer Mission said it visited the Results Operating Centre and closely followed the results collation process and the ongoing post-electoral developments.
“The Joint Mission was impressed by the establishment of an advanced results operational centre equipped with modern digital infrastructure to enhance transparency.
“The Mission noted the pivotal role of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) in capturing, managing, and disseminating electoral data and information.
“This technological advancement has significantly improved data management and accessibility, thereby enhancing the transparency of the electoral process and instilling confidence in the management of the elections, ultimately enhancing democracy in the country,” the statement reads.
The ESN-SA and the ZESN jointly deployed a ten-member observer mission with experienced observation practitioners to observe polling processes in Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and Western Cape Provinces during the National and Provincial elections.
The primary objective of the Joint Observer Mission was to evaluate whether the South African electoral process adhered to national laws and to determine if the country’s electoral framework aligns with regional and international principles, norms, standards, and best practices.
“This initiative underscores the Network’s dedication to advancing democratic integrity and transparent electoral processes throughout the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region,” the statement reads.
The Joint Observer Mission however concluded that despite minor logistical and technical challenges, the voting process was orderly, transparent, and smooth.
“The efficient management and adherence to polling procedures, combined with adequate participation from political party agents and satisfactory gender representation among polling officials contributed to the smooth conduct of the elections. We hope peace prevails in the Rainbow Nation post-election,” the mission said.
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