News / National
AU endorses Zimbabwe's poll preps
20 Jul 2013 at 08:05hrs | Views
THE African Union said problems that bedevilled Special Voting for members of the security forces this week do not detract from the holding of free and fair elections in Zimbabwe on July 31.
The AU statement follows utterances by Ms Lindiwe Zulu, international relations advisor to South African president Jacob Zuma, who is Sadc facilitator to the Global Political Agreement that paved way for the inclusive Government.
Ms Zulu was quoted by sections of the media as saying, "We are concerned because things on the ground are not looking good."
It, however, could not be established who the "we'' Ms Zulu was referring to was as Mr Zuma was appointed GPA facilitator in his personal capacity.
Addressing the media after the 385th meeting of the Peace and Security Council in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, yesterday, Dr Aisha Abdullahi - AU Commissioner for Political Affairs - said assessments by the AU Observer Mission showed Zimbabwe was on course to a credible vote.
"According to our observers on the ground, we believe that it is possible to have free and fair elections in Zimbabwe. But we cannot guarantee that it will be the most perfect or optimum of situations," Dr Abdullahi was quoted as saying by AFP.
A 10-member AU Long-Term Observer Mission arrived in Zimbabwe on June 18 and is set to be joined by a 60-member Short-Term Observer team led by former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo which is expected in Harare from tomorrow.
"The environment in Zimbabwe so far reassures us that the conditions are good for the election to be held on July 31," Dr Abdullahi said.
"The Peace and Security Council has noted the levels of preparation for the election and confirmed that the funding gap has been filled," she said.
The PSC met to discuss elections in Madagascar, Togo and Mali, among other issues
Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa briefed the meeting on the country's state of preparedness for the harmonised elections.
Special voting held on Sunday and Monday was marred by logistical challenges, among them delayed start to voting, late delivery or no delivery of ballot papers at some polling stations, among other issues.
The AU statement follows utterances by Ms Lindiwe Zulu, international relations advisor to South African president Jacob Zuma, who is Sadc facilitator to the Global Political Agreement that paved way for the inclusive Government.
Ms Zulu was quoted by sections of the media as saying, "We are concerned because things on the ground are not looking good."
It, however, could not be established who the "we'' Ms Zulu was referring to was as Mr Zuma was appointed GPA facilitator in his personal capacity.
Addressing the media after the 385th meeting of the Peace and Security Council in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, yesterday, Dr Aisha Abdullahi - AU Commissioner for Political Affairs - said assessments by the AU Observer Mission showed Zimbabwe was on course to a credible vote.
"According to our observers on the ground, we believe that it is possible to have free and fair elections in Zimbabwe. But we cannot guarantee that it will be the most perfect or optimum of situations," Dr Abdullahi was quoted as saying by AFP.
"The environment in Zimbabwe so far reassures us that the conditions are good for the election to be held on July 31," Dr Abdullahi said.
"The Peace and Security Council has noted the levels of preparation for the election and confirmed that the funding gap has been filled," she said.
The PSC met to discuss elections in Madagascar, Togo and Mali, among other issues
Justice and Legal Affairs Minister Patrick Chinamasa briefed the meeting on the country's state of preparedness for the harmonised elections.
Special voting held on Sunday and Monday was marred by logistical challenges, among them delayed start to voting, late delivery or no delivery of ballot papers at some polling stations, among other issues.
Source - herald
