Chengetai Zvauya
HARARE – The European Union Electoral Observation Mission (EUEOM) team has given thumbs up to the prevailing electoral conditions and atmosphere ahead of the July 30 elections, a move which rebuts claims by MDC Alliance of an uneven playing field.
In an interview with BT Inside Politics in Harare, Mark Stevens, the EUEOM deputy chief observer said the team was satisfied with what it has witnessed since it arrived in the country last month.
The revelation by the EU observer mission comes as MDC Alliance presidential candidate Nelson Chamisa has declared a deadlock appealing for Sadc to convene a special summit for Zimbabwe.
Chamisa has in the past threatened to shut down the country next week and block the July 30 harmonised elections through mass demonstrations unless Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) meet his demands for electoral reforms.
He said ZEC had lost credibility and the trust of political parties and the general public in terms of its ability to hold free and fair elections.
Chamisa claimed that ZEC was working with a team of 64 Russians which is helping it to rig elections in favour of the ruling Zanu PF. The team of Russians, he said, is staying in Mt Pleasant.
However Stevens said: “We are happy with what we have witnessed so far. These elections are a critical test of the Zimbabwe reform process. Given the context of past elections, great efforts need to be made to ensure public and political confidence in the polls in 2018,” he said.
“We are on the ground doing our work, and we have noted the concerns that are being brought by the opposition political parties in particular the MDC Alliance. We have received their petition which is demanding a free and fair elections environment and transparency and accountability in the printing of the ballot papers.”
A 10-member core team arrived in Harare on June 6 with a bigger contingent coming two weeks later. The core team analyses political, electoral and legal issues related to the electoral process.
Led by Elmar Brok, the EUEOM has met with President Emerson Mnangagwa, Chamisa and ZEC Chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba.
“We have met all the concerned stakeholders so far and have heard their concern. We understand the ZEC chairperson is a competent lawyer who is able to deal with all legal issues concerning the voting law. We hope the presence of EU observers can be a source of support for the conduct of credible elections.” Stevens said.
“Our observation focuses not only on the election day, but on the entire electoral process, including the environment for the polls, conduct of the campaign, results transmission and the resolution of any election-related legal disputes after voting has finished. In making our assessment we will consider the environment and context for the polls alongside election day itself.”
He said the team would produce its final report after the election and remain in Zimbabwe if there is need for a second round of election.
The EUEOM comprises of 140 observers from the EU countries as well as observers from Canada, Norway and Switzerland who arrived in the country last month. The observers have been deployed in all the 10 provinces.
“Our team is monitoring everything on the political landscape including the demonstrations last week in Harare and Bulawayo, and postal voting” Stevens said.
“There is a lot of freedom of assembly and movement in the country, and a peaceful environment is existing in the run up to the polling day and we hope this will continue.”
He said EUEOM would not be a referee in the elections, but are going to observe the electoral environment.
“We don’t want to interfere in the electoral process of the country; taking sides with one political party. We shall issue a preliminary report after the polling day and a final report a few weeks after the elections,” Stevens said.
He said the team has been working smoothly in all the provinces and has not faced any interference in carrying out its mandate.
“Our team is proving to be popular among all the stakeholders, and the population at large having being out of the country for more than 16 years,” Stevens said.
“The presence of the EUEOM demonstrates the EU’s commitment to the conduct of peaceful, inclusive, transparent and credible elections in Zimbabwe.”
EU, he said, wanted to accompany Zimbabwe in its transition to satisfy the legitimate expectations of the people and stands ready to engage further if the appropriate conditions are met.
“Elections are, in this regard, an essential step in a long and challenging reform process” he said.
The Sadc Election Observer Mission team said it was not in position to give out its statement on the environment until polling has taken place.
President Mnangagwa has promised to deliver a free, fair and credible election, inviting observers from EU and Sadc among others to observe the first election in a post Robert Mugabe era.
