Commonwealth Observers Jet In For Zim Polls

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The Commonwealth Observer mission has set foot in Zimbabwe for the second time since 2003, to witness the country’s general elections scheduled for next week Wednesday.

The 14 member group joins the EU, AU, COMESA and SADC observers who are already in the country to observe the crunch poll, whose conduct by the authorities in Harare will also determine the country’s fate regarding its re-entry into the former British Colonies grouping.

The Commonwealth has hinged Harare’s re-admission into the grouping on it’s holding a free, fair and credicble poll.

Addressing journalists in Harare today, chair of the Commonwealth observer group to Zimbabwe, Amina Cawahir Mohamed said her team would observe the pre election environment, polling day activities and the post election period to consider whether the election will have been conducted in a free and fair manner.

“The Commonwealth Observer Group has no executive role, its function is not to interfere with, but to observe the process as a whole and to make recommendations accordingly.

“We will observe the pre-election environment, polling day activities and post-election period. In particular, we will consider whether the conditions exist for credible elections, including a fair election environment, whether public media has been impartial, the transparency of the entire process, whether voters are free to express their will, and whether the counting and results process is transparent.

“We will then report on whether the elections have been conducted in accordance with the standards to which Zimbabwe has committed itself, including its national, regional and international commitments,” she said.

Mohamed, who was flanked by two Commonwealth secretariat, Joshua Setipa and Linford Andrews, also outlined the work which the team would venture into, from engaging various stakeholders until the end of their task.

“Over the coming days, we will be meeting stakeholders, including government representatives, political parties, security agencies, civil society groups, citizen and international observer groups, diplomats, and the media.

“From the 21 August, we will deploy our observers across various parts of Zimbabwe to observe the voting, counting and results process, as well as meet with other stakeholders in respective locations.

“On Election Day, we will observe the opening, voting, closing, counting and the results management processes. We will issue an interim statement on our preliminary findings on the 25 August, before members of the group depart Zimbabwe on the 29 August. A final report will then be prepared and submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, and subsequently shared with relevant stakeholders and made publicly available,” she added.