Source: ED sets tough conditions for poll observers –Newsday Zimbabwe
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa says foreign observers will be invited to oversee this year’s polls on condition that they do not meddle in the country’s electoral processes.
Zimbabwe will hold its harmonised elections mid-year. Mnangagwa is yet to proclaim election dates.
Writing in his column in a local weekly newspaper, Mnangagwa said he would formally invite the international observers after proclaiming election dates, but warned that he would not tolerate ‘undue interference’ in the country’s electoral processes.
“Sometime this year, we will go for our harmonised general elections. As I write, everything is being done to ensure everyone who wants to vote in the forthcoming elections is facilitated. Our elections will be free and fair, and will be conducted in an atmosphere of space and tranquillity.
“Government will formally invite foreign observers once I have proclaimed dates for the harmonised elections. We view elections as yet another plank for anchoring and furthering our global diplomacy, as well as re-confirming our commitment to international tenets on democracy. We, however, will not entertain undue interference in our electoral processes which should remain sovereign,” Mnangagwa said.
But critics raised concerns over the conditions set by Mnangagwa, saying he was likely to use that to bar observers from so-called ‘unfriendly’ countries.
Zimbabwe Election Advocacy Trust executive director Ignatious Sadziwa said: “Observing elections actually means that you have to be involved in every process. You can’t be invited for elections and then get told that you can’t interfere. In other words Mnangagwa is actually saying that they are not welcome to observe elections.”
Elections Resource Centre programmes manager Solomon Bobosibunu said the main role of international observers is to document and make some recommendations.
“The practice internationally is that depending on the rules of the government that is hosting a particular election, international observers are meant not to interfere in the process of elections. They are different from monitors. So here in Zimbabwe we have observers and their role is to simply watch the process, document, and make some recommendations and a report.
“Our main concern would be when these observers are going to be invited so that we allow them to have more time to interact with the locals and other electoral processes so that they comprehend what’s happening. Actually they should have started on the primary elections so that they make recommendations.”
Recently, the European Union said it is ready to send its election observer missions to Zimbabwe to ensure the country holds free and fair elections.
The EU said free polls will guarantee the bloc’s increased economic development support to Zimbabwe. In 2020, Mnangagwa hinted that Zimbabwe might in future not invite foreign observers during local elections, saying the Malawi presidential elections had proved that they were not necessary.
COMMENTS
“undue interference” is his way of saying “don’t interfere with my vote rigging, unless it’s in my and zpf’s favour”. Still, you stupids, aka citizens and voters, have been stupid enough to let zpf get away with vote rigging, voter intimidation, murder and economic ruin, so it’ll be interesting to see how you’ll get out of zpf’s murderous and destructive claws! You’ve been stupid enough to let them ruin Zimbabwe so far, and it won’t surprise me if you’re still that stupid now!
Those “observers” will only get to see what zpf want them to see, i.e. a couple of polling stations in say Harare or Bulawayo. They certainly WON’T be allowed to visit any others or observe the counting either. You stupids in Zimbabwe have let them get away with it for decades, just like all the others, so it’s just the formalities left. It’s a good time to remind you stupids, aka citizens, that what you’ve allowed for decades, and done nothing to stop, is why you are a ruined, Chinese owned and operated FAILURE on the continent as well.
Those “observers” will only get accredited, if they’re blind, deaf and mute! They’ll all be from places like North Korea and China, but then Zimbabwe owes China big bucks, and can’t pay them, so a “holiday” for those observers, who’ll only get to see what zpf want them to see. None of them will see ALL of those polling stations, won’t get to witness the counting, and you lot in Zimbabwe will be headed for more ruinous zpf rule at the end of it. Still, it’s what you’ve been stupid enough to allow, as a nation, since the 1980’s so I have a substantial bet, $2,023 usd, that not only will zpf get back in, but Zimbabwe will be ruined not long after said elections are over!
Translated: The election is already rigged, and a few of our buddies from the AU, SADC etc, will be posted to only those stations we want them to see, complete with blindfolds and earplugs whilst they’re here. You stupids, aka citizens, will probably not even bother to go near a polling station anyway, as it’ll be too far, not signposted, or probably even a fake station! So glad I won’t be around for the fallout afterwards, as well as the ruin zpf will inflict for at least another 4 years afterwards! So long, stupids! You’re done for now!
As they’re already rigged, what’s the point? So glad I’ll be shot of the whole idiocy before then! You lot will never give credible opposition a chance, zpf have already rigged the results, and you lot will face further zpf ruin! Those “tough conditions” will only apply to observers from outside SADC and the AU as well, unless they include China, North Korea and similarly non-democratic, freedom-starved countries! So glad I’ll be free of more zpf ruin soon!