South Africa hailed on election observers

Lloyd Gumbo Senior Reporter
African countries are increasingly asserting themselves in determining how their elections are run as seen in South Africa’s refusal to be bullied into accepting electoral observers it does not approve of, analysts have said.South Africa’s decision to limit the number of foreign observers in its May 7 poll has elicited plaudits from observers this side of the Limpopo River, who say a similar stand by Zimbabwe in its 2013 harmonised elections has been vindicated.

South Africa told embassies that only their ambassadors could observe the polls. Further, it is understood that only leaders of its closest allies – such as African and BRIC countries – would be invited to the President’s inauguration.

Last night, ANC was on track to retain its dominance of South Africa’s political landscape.

In 2013, Western countries and some sections of the media made a lot of noise about Zimbabwe’s decision to maintain a limit on the number of foreign observers to its polls.

Midlands State University dean of International Relations Mr Christopher Gwatidzo said South Africa was on the right path by stamping its authority over its electoral processes.

“It is a re-assertion of African values and a powerful statement going to the West of the changing world order where African countries are now asserting themselves,” he said.

“Considering that South Africa is doing this after Zimbabwe did it, naturally one would think South Africa is taking a leaf from Zimbabwe.”

Mr Gwatidzo added that the fact that Economic Freedom Fighters led by former ANC Youth League president Mr Julius Malema was on course to poll more than five percent of the vote was a clear indication that downtrodden black Africans were serious about self-determination, something Zanu-PF has been championing in Zimbabwe.

South African media reports showed consternation among Westerners over the government’s position, which International Relations and Co-operation Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane outlined to senior diplomats three weeks ago.

Business Day said three diplomats it spoke with were “surprised”.

“In previous elections diplomats were given almost carte blanche in what they wanted to do, where they wanted to be and the co-operation from the South African government was wonderful.

However, this time, it seems it is somewhat less so,” one diplomat reportedly remarked.

International Relations Department spokesperson Mr Clayson Monyela was quoted saying “everything we have done is in accordance with international diplomatic principles”.

Mr Monyela said their policy was to accredit international organisations like the United Nations, Sadc and the African Union.

“Countries or regions such as the European Union have never invited either an African country or the African Union to observe elections within their regions,” he added.

University of Zimbabwe-based international relations expert Mr Farai Sasa said of the decision: “It shows that African countries have capacity to decide their own electoral processes and that we can conduct our elections without supervision.

“Zimbabwe set the standard that we can do it and South Africa is now taking after that. The decision to only invite closest allies is a celebration of a process that they have owned.”

Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo said Zimbabwe had been vindicated because it had always insisted on African countries taking charge of their electoral processes.

“We have a very clear position on the role of Africa and its indigenous people in determining their future, which is exactly what South Africa has also done,” he said.

Cde Gumbo said it was important for African countries to do their business based on their own values and without apology.

War veterans leader Cde Jabulani Sibanda weighed in saying, “South Africa attained its independence from apartheid through an armed struggle, so they must be left alone to determine their own destiny.

“The conduct of elections must be in accordance with the struggle itself . . . they are just saying ‘you were doing business with apartheid so you would not tell us anything now’.

“I hope all African countries will stand up and show that Africa is not only free from colonisation, but from slavery as well.”