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AU chiefs jet in for polls
23 Jul 2013 at 06:32hrs | Views
AFRICAN Union (AU) chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is expected in the country tomorrow while the AU commissioner for political affairs Aisha Abdullahi arrives today to assess the political situation in the country ahead of the July 31 polls.
According to a top AU official, the observer team will be led by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who at one time was a mediator to the country's political crisis.
"The AU commissioner for political affairs will be in Zimbabwe tomorrow (today) followed by Zuma on Wednesday to assess the situation vis-a-vis polls," the AU official said.
The visit follows last week's Peace and Security Council meeting of the AU on the preparations for upcoming elections in Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Mali, Togo and Guinea Bissau.
Zimbabwe goes for elections at the month end amid fears by opposition political parties that Zanu-PF wants to rig the polls.
The MDC formations have said that though it was too late to boycott the polls, they had documentary evidence of how Zanu-PF wanted to rig the polls, but would do everything in their power to stop the rigging.
According to a top AU official, the observer team will be led by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who at one time was a mediator to the country's political crisis.
"The AU commissioner for political affairs will be in Zimbabwe tomorrow (today) followed by Zuma on Wednesday to assess the situation vis-a-vis polls," the AU official said.
Zimbabwe goes for elections at the month end amid fears by opposition political parties that Zanu-PF wants to rig the polls.
The MDC formations have said that though it was too late to boycott the polls, they had documentary evidence of how Zanu-PF wanted to rig the polls, but would do everything in their power to stop the rigging.
Source - newsday
