malvernmugadzikwa
Online Reporter
The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has deployed 46 long-term observers across Zimbabwe ahead of the August 23 harmonised elections.
“The observers will be working across all of Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces, and will focus on rural as well as urban areas,” said EU EOM deputy chief observer Dr Beata Martin-Rozumiłowicz.
“In the course of their duty, EU observers will meet local electoral officials, candidates and representatives from political parties, as well as civil society and the media.”
The observers, she said, will not interfere in the electoral process in the course of their work.
The findings of the long-term observers will be analysed by the core team, which will be based in Harare.
On election day, the long-term observers will be complemented by 44 short-term observers, a delegation from the European Parliament and several locally recruited short-term observers drawn from the diplomatic community.
This will bring the number of EU observers on polling day to over 150.
EU EOM chief observer Mr Fabio Massimo Castaldo will present the initial findings and conclusions of the mission two days after the elections.
The mission will remain in Zimbabwe to also observe the post-electoral environment, as well as follow possible appeals and complaints.
The mission will draft a final report with recommendations for future elections, which will be published two months after election day.
Bongani Ndlovu