News / Local
'EU's withdrawal of Zimbabwe Electoral Commission's funding is a non-event'
25 Sep 2023 at 18:32hrs | Views
Zanu-PF has dismissed the European Union's decision to withdraw a $5 million funding allocation for the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) following the disputed August general election. The ruling party described the move as inconsequential and asserted that the government can financially support ZEC independently.
ZEC was established as an independent election monitoring body by the constitution. Last week, the EU announced the withdrawal of funds after the elections, which were criticized by the EU, Carter Center, SADC, and AU Electoral Observer Missions in their preliminary reports.
Zanu-PF's Acting Director of Information, Farai Marapira, stated, "Zanu-PF wishes to make it abundantly clear that it respects the decisions of the EU as an independent body. On the same note, Zanu-PF is cognizant of the fact that ZEC is a constitutional body funded by the government through the treasury. Withdrawals of any and all additional funding remain inconsequential."
Marapira emphasized that ZEC is constitutionally mandated, and the government is obligated to fund all its activities. He further stated that the government is fully capable of financing ZEC's operations independently. Therefore, whether the EU chooses to provide funding or not is of no significance to them.
The EU's decision to withdraw funding for the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) comes in the wake of calls from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) for a new election, labeling the previous one as a massive fraudulent operation.
Zanu-PF's President Emmerson Mnangagwa secured victory in the election with 52.6 percent of the vote, while opposition leader Nelson Chamisa garnered 44 percent.
ZEC was established as an independent election monitoring body by the constitution. Last week, the EU announced the withdrawal of funds after the elections, which were criticized by the EU, Carter Center, SADC, and AU Electoral Observer Missions in their preliminary reports.
Zanu-PF's Acting Director of Information, Farai Marapira, stated, "Zanu-PF wishes to make it abundantly clear that it respects the decisions of the EU as an independent body. On the same note, Zanu-PF is cognizant of the fact that ZEC is a constitutional body funded by the government through the treasury. Withdrawals of any and all additional funding remain inconsequential."
Marapira emphasized that ZEC is constitutionally mandated, and the government is obligated to fund all its activities. He further stated that the government is fully capable of financing ZEC's operations independently. Therefore, whether the EU chooses to provide funding or not is of no significance to them.
Responding to questions on the Intention of Zec Funding Withdrawal by the European Union, Zanu-PF wishes to make it abundantly clear that it respects the decisions of the EU as an independent body. On the same note, Zanu-PF is cognisant of the fact that ZEC is a constitutional… pic.twitter.com/Bjtu4oQbbe
— Farai Dustee Marapira (@marapira_farai) September 25, 2023
The EU's decision to withdraw funding for the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) comes in the wake of calls from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) for a new election, labeling the previous one as a massive fraudulent operation.
Zanu-PF's President Emmerson Mnangagwa secured victory in the election with 52.6 percent of the vote, while opposition leader Nelson Chamisa garnered 44 percent.
Source - NewZimbabwe
