Staff Writer
The Southern African Development Community Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) has condemned series of irregularities by the Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC), casting doubts over credibility of the electoral processes.
In its preliminary statement on the conduct of the 2023 Harmonised Elections in Zimbabwe
head of the SADC election observation mission (EOM) and former Vice President of Zambia, Dr Nevers Mumba, concluded that “some aspects of the Harmonised Elections, fell short of the requirements of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Electoral Act, and the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections”.
In particular, the EOM highlighted the lack of ballot papers provided by ZEC on election day – which was ultimately responsible for late opening times at polling stations across the country – “has the unfortunate effect of creating doubts about the credibility of this electoral process”.
The mission also noted the controversy surrounding postal voting amid allegations that police officers undertaking postal voting were coerced to vote in a particular way in the presence of their supervisors, thus compromising the secrecy of the vote.
The SADC Electoral Observation Mission was composed of 68 observers, 50 of which were deployed to the 10 provinces of the Zimbabwe, and the rest were based at the SEOM headquarters here in the Rainbow Towers Hotel.
The observers were deployed to Harare, Bulawayo, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland South, Midlands, Manicaland, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central and Mashonaland West.
During the pre-election phase, the Mission consulted key stakeholders such as the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), key Government Agencies, leaders of political parties, representatives of faith-based organizations, media, Civil Society Organisations, and the Heads of International Election Observation Missions.
The Preliminary Statement covers the Mission’s observations of the pre-election period and voting day activities.
The Mission’s final report will cover in more detail, the observations of the pre-election, election and post-election phases, and aimed at supporting and strengthening the democratic electoral processes in the Republic of Zimbabwe as a SADC Member State.
About Author
