Global observer group backs ZESN over Zimbabwe elections

AN umbrella body of international observers has defended the Zimbabwe Election Support Network, saying the election watchdog's report endorsing the just-ended harmonised elections was impartial and independent.

In a statement, Global Network of Domestic Election Monitors, a network of 251 observer groups located in 89 countries, slammed attacks directed at ZESN by some Western donors and the MDC Alliance who accused it of being biased towards Zanu-PF after it issued a report describing the polls as free, fair and credible and a reflection of the will of the people.

The statement followed tremendous pressure directed at ZESN from European Union donors who were miffed by its report coupled by its poll forecast that were not off the mark from the final results announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission in which Zanu-PF candidate President Mnangagwa trounced MDC Alliance candidate, Mr Nelson Chamisa. In its statement, GNDEM said there was no basis for anyone to attack the credibility of ZESN's sample based observation (SBO) methodology, saying the election watchdog was a tried and tested organisation in election observation since the year 2000.

GNDEM said ZESN was its founding member and a signatory to "Declaration of Principles for Non-Partisan Election Observation and Monitoring by Citizen Organisations" and the "Code of Conduct for Non-Partisan Citizen Observers and Monitors."

"ZESN undertook a comprehensive effort to observe the 2018 harmonised elections and issued a number of statements on the conduct of the elections," it said. "These statements highlight both improvements and shortcomings in the electoral process.

"Similarly, computer analysis of the final voters roll showed both overall improvement over the 2013 preliminary voters roll and continued under registration in urban areas." The body said the SBO methodology, also known as parallel voter tabulation or quick count, was an internationally recognised way.

"SBO is a proven, advanced citizen observation methodology first developed in 1986 in the Philippines by the National Citizens' Movement for Free Elections (NAMFREL)," it said.

"The methodology has since been used by citizen observer groups around the world and across Africa — including Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Nigeria, Senegal, and Zambia.

"The methodology provides the most precise and timely information on the conduct of voting and counting and independently verifies the accuracy of the official results. "The SBO methodology involves deploying trained, accredited observers to a representative random sample of polling stations determined by widely accepted statistical principles to ensure the findings are valid for all polling stations (within a margin of error)."

It was noted that the SBO also produced estimates for the national results for the presidential election based on official polling station results from the 750 sampled polling stations after its observers had witnessed the entire voting and counting process.

"By 12 noon on Tuesday, July 31, ZESN had received and verified complete observer reports from all 750 sampled polling stations — including polling stations results," GNDEM said. "The results that have so far been announced by Zec fall within the SBO estimated ranges.

"However, it is important to point out that these estimates could not definitively determine whether or not there should be a run-off for the presidential election."