International observers who are in the country following the welcome by president Emerson Mnangagwa say more needs to be done if Zimbabwe is to hold free, fair and credible elections and has called for the speeding up of electoral reforms.
The delegation represents an important component of the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) joint Zimbabwe International Election Observation Mission and includes regional and election experts from Africa, Europe and North America.
The delegation is comprised of Dr Brigalia Bam, former Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa; Hon. David Dreier, former United States Congressman; Senator Catherine Noone, Deputy Leader of the Irish Senate; Barry Jackson, former chief of staff to Speaker of the US House of Representatives; Elizabeth Lewis, Deputy Director, Africa, IRI; Sandra Pepera, Director, Gender, Women and Democracy, NDI; Larry Garber, Co-Mission Director, NDI; and Nicolas Teindas, Co-Mission Director, IRI.
The delegation’s most critical recommendations called for: extensive voter education on the secrecy of the vote; a public commitment by the military to serve the winning presidential candidate regardless of their party affiliation; and the ZEC to:
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distribute an analyzable final voters’ roll at the close of nomination process;
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allow for meaningful observation by political parties of the procurement, printing, storage and distribution of ballots; and
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publicize plans for the tabulation and announcement of results.
“While the IRI-NDI delegation found several notable improvements in the political environment and electoral preparations as compared to prior elections, a number of significant opportunities to break with the past have been missed,” said Dreier.
“As a result, we still have concerns about the fairness of the process.”
Deputy Leader of the Irish Senate; Senate, Catherine Noone said that from what they have observed so far, there is need to amend more laws regarding election process so that a credible election is guaranteed.
“As we are here, we are hoping to see a transparency election. This can be done only if there are reforms as also to prove that the history of the country and that the current president came in through the help of the military, so there is need of transparency in the election process,” she said.
“With seven weeks remaining until Election Day, the joint IRI-NDI mission recognizes that there are practical steps that can be taken to help Zimbabwe break with its history of flawed elections and enhance inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability,” said Senator Noone.
“We are hopeful that the observations presented in this statement will be helpful leading up to Election Day.”
She also said that there is need to ensure military respect as well as violence against women and also the accreditation of observers in time.
“The people are hopeful for a new future and the election actors have a responsibility to build confidence with the people,” said Dr Bam.
“Based on my experience as a senior election official in South Africa, the opportunity still exists to take important steps to enhance the inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability of the process.”
This comes at a time when opposition parties have been pushing for electoral reforms which they are claiming that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is refusing to provide information about the electoral process particularly the printing of the ballot paper.
