News / Local
Sadc satisfied with Zimbabwe poll preps
18 Aug 2023 at 01:53hrs | Views
THE Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) Election Observer Mission has expressed satisfaction with the peaceful environment prevailing in the country during the election period, saying it is the regional bloc's wish to see credible elections in Zimbabwe.
President Mnangagwa is living true to his pledge to hold free, fair and credible polls with his administration opening unrestricted access for election observer teams.
The Sadc team arrived on Wednesday for a week-long pre-election assessment mission, and will meet officials from Government, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, political parties and civil society.
The mission, which is in line with the Sadc Principles and Guidelines Governing Conduct of Democratic Elections, will apprise the regional body of Zimbabwe's plan for a credible poll.
Speaking after paying a courtesy call on Zanu-PF Secretary General Dr Obert Mpofu in Harare yesterday, SADC observer mission team leader and former Zambian Vice President Dr Nevers Mumba expressed satisfaction with the peaceful environment in the country.
"The meeting was extremely encouraging and they have made a commitment to attend to issues that matter to all of us, to the Zimbabwean people, to ensure that we work together to maintain the peaceful environment during this process.
"There is a need to ensure that we all continue to adhere to the regulations that guide elections in order to have an outcome that is sustainable and acceptable to all Zimbabweans and to all those that are interested like the Sadc region.
"Whatever happens in Zimbabwe affects us in the Sadc region and that is why you see us so much involved to ensure that in one way or the other, we assist the brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe to realise a dream of free, fair and credible elections," said Dr Mumba. The Sadc election observer team will engage all the stakeholders involved in the election process.
"The role of Sadc election observers is to ensure that we engage all the stakeholders, in this case the candidates that are standing in the elections and the political parties that are participating.
"We had the honour to meet the Secretary General of Zanu-PF together with his team. We held productive discussions listening to the plans they have for the elections.
"We also heard some of the concerns they have and how we can best work together as observers and participants," said Dr Mumba.
Observers from the European Union (EU), who arrived last month, are already on the ground.
Zimbabweans will go to the polls to elect the President, parliamentarians and local government councillors next Wednesday.
Dr Mpofu said the Sadc team wanted certain assurances regarding the elections and the electoral processes that were taking place.
"They raised quite a number of issues which relate to the general conduct of the elections; whether players are being allowed to campaign freely, whether Zanu-PF is satisfied with the ZEC participation and involvement in the coming elections.
"They wanted to hear our side in terms of our readiness and preparedness that is before, during and after elections," said Dr Mpofu.
Later in the day, Dr Mpofu held a meeting with representatives from former liberation movements who are mostly the governing political parties in the Sadc region.
They include the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa, SWAPO of Namibia, Frelimo of Mozambique, Malawi Congress Party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi of Tanzania and MPLA of Angola.
"We were sharing some perspectives on the ongoing preparations for our coming elections. We were discussing regional issues, the need to continue collaborating on issues that affect us.
"Their assignment is to observe our elections. We are quite grateful that they have managed to come," Dr Mpofu said.
ANC representative Ms Lindiwe Zulu expressed satisfaction with the development trajectory which the New Dispensation was pursuing.
"From the last time I was here, there is so much progress taking place. I was very impressed when I got to the Robert Gabriel International Airport to see that the airport was expanded.
"I was happy with the infrastructure development in comparison to the time I was last here. This is also the report that we need to give back to our political parties beyond monitoring the elections.
"We need to be united in addressing the challenges that are faced by our economies and our people," she said.
Frelimo representative Jamisse Taimo said sister revolutionary parties should fight against neo-colonialism.
"We need share ideas and support our comrades. We are together," he said.
SWAPO said it was in the country to observe elections at the invitation of Zanu-PF adding that there was a need to support each other as revolutionary parties.
Malawi Congress Party representative Elias Chakwera said: "We are here to learn and share ideas and observe elections."
President Mnangagwa is living true to his pledge to hold free, fair and credible polls with his administration opening unrestricted access for election observer teams.
The Sadc team arrived on Wednesday for a week-long pre-election assessment mission, and will meet officials from Government, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, political parties and civil society.
The mission, which is in line with the Sadc Principles and Guidelines Governing Conduct of Democratic Elections, will apprise the regional body of Zimbabwe's plan for a credible poll.
Speaking after paying a courtesy call on Zanu-PF Secretary General Dr Obert Mpofu in Harare yesterday, SADC observer mission team leader and former Zambian Vice President Dr Nevers Mumba expressed satisfaction with the peaceful environment in the country.
"The meeting was extremely encouraging and they have made a commitment to attend to issues that matter to all of us, to the Zimbabwean people, to ensure that we work together to maintain the peaceful environment during this process.
"There is a need to ensure that we all continue to adhere to the regulations that guide elections in order to have an outcome that is sustainable and acceptable to all Zimbabweans and to all those that are interested like the Sadc region.
"Whatever happens in Zimbabwe affects us in the Sadc region and that is why you see us so much involved to ensure that in one way or the other, we assist the brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe to realise a dream of free, fair and credible elections," said Dr Mumba. The Sadc election observer team will engage all the stakeholders involved in the election process.
"The role of Sadc election observers is to ensure that we engage all the stakeholders, in this case the candidates that are standing in the elections and the political parties that are participating.
"We had the honour to meet the Secretary General of Zanu-PF together with his team. We held productive discussions listening to the plans they have for the elections.
"We also heard some of the concerns they have and how we can best work together as observers and participants," said Dr Mumba.
Observers from the European Union (EU), who arrived last month, are already on the ground.
Zimbabweans will go to the polls to elect the President, parliamentarians and local government councillors next Wednesday.
Dr Mpofu said the Sadc team wanted certain assurances regarding the elections and the electoral processes that were taking place.
"They wanted to hear our side in terms of our readiness and preparedness that is before, during and after elections," said Dr Mpofu.
Later in the day, Dr Mpofu held a meeting with representatives from former liberation movements who are mostly the governing political parties in the Sadc region.
They include the African National Congress (ANC) of South Africa, SWAPO of Namibia, Frelimo of Mozambique, Malawi Congress Party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi of Tanzania and MPLA of Angola.
"We were sharing some perspectives on the ongoing preparations for our coming elections. We were discussing regional issues, the need to continue collaborating on issues that affect us.
"Their assignment is to observe our elections. We are quite grateful that they have managed to come," Dr Mpofu said.
ANC representative Ms Lindiwe Zulu expressed satisfaction with the development trajectory which the New Dispensation was pursuing.
"From the last time I was here, there is so much progress taking place. I was very impressed when I got to the Robert Gabriel International Airport to see that the airport was expanded.
"I was happy with the infrastructure development in comparison to the time I was last here. This is also the report that we need to give back to our political parties beyond monitoring the elections.
"We need to be united in addressing the challenges that are faced by our economies and our people," she said.
Frelimo representative Jamisse Taimo said sister revolutionary parties should fight against neo-colonialism.
"We need share ideas and support our comrades. We are together," he said.
SWAPO said it was in the country to observe elections at the invitation of Zanu-PF adding that there was a need to support each other as revolutionary parties.
Malawi Congress Party representative Elias Chakwera said: "We are here to learn and share ideas and observe elections."
Source - The Herald
