adminHarare Bureau
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) conducted a flawless harmonised election on Wednesday that meets the conditions set by the Electoral Commissions Forum (ECF) of Sadc countries.The commission consists of electoral management institutions from Botswana, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zanzibar.
These institutions are principally guided by the Principles for Elections Management, Monitoring and Observation (PEMMO) and the Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections in the Sadc region as agreed to by civic society among the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa.
Compliance with the relevant provision of the new Zimbabwe Constitution, the Electoral Act and its ancillary regulations, other pieces of legislation relevant to elections in Zimbabwe also serve as guiding tools to assess compliance with the legal framework for conducting elections in Zimbabwe.
Addressing foreign and local journalists in Harare yesterday, ECF mission leader and chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Namibia Advocate Notemba Tjipueja, hailed Zec for demonstrating professionalism, independence and tremendous efforts in organising and mobilising voters in the just-ended poll.
She lauded Zec, all political parties, candidates and Zimbabweans for the peaceful, credible and efficient electoral process.
“The 2013 Zimbabwe harmonised elections were also benchmarked against the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, which the country ratified on 31 May in 2011.
The mission learned that Zec authorised 65 956 members of the security forces and armed forces and commission staff to vote. It further learnt that 37 108 voted and that 26 160 did not vote.
“Many stakeholders raised concerns on the manner in which the special vote was conducted which led to the disenfranchisement of a substantial number of eligible voters in this category. The mission applauds Zec for the bold step taken to seek permission from the Constitutional Court for the affected voters to be allowed to vote during the general elections.”
She hailed Zec for measures that were taken to guard against double voting before the commencement of the general elections at all polling stations. ECF joins other observation teams among them AU, Sadc and Comesa that have given Zimbabwean elections a clean bill.
Adv Tjipueja commended Zec on the postal vote accorded to eligible voters working in the service of the Government abroad but said voting for those based in the Diaspora was impractical.
“The mission noted that the new Constitution entitled many people living in Zimbabwe who were previously classified as ‘aliens’ to register for citizenship. Zec collaborated with civil society organisations to carry out voter education throughout the country and the commendable efforts of Zec in the area of voter education is clearly manifested in the high number of voters registered for this election,” she said.
Adv Tjipueja said the mission was satisfied with the general calm and peaceful atmosphere which prevailed throughout the period it observed the 2013 harmonised elections.
“The Mission notes with appreciation the establishment of an independent, non-political Zimbabwe Media Commission which ensures that the people have fair and wide access to information. In this regard the mission noted with satisfaction the existence of the media monitoring committee chaired by Zec to give effect to this statutory mandate,” she said.
Adv Tjipueja said her team was satisfied with the security during political rallies and voting stations before, during and after the harmonised elections.
She commended Zec for transparency and stakeholder engagement and notably the design of voter education material in Braille.
The commission was impressed that Zec conducted the polls in one day and votes were counted in accordance with statutory provisions which she said was conducted at ward level in the presence of part agents and observers.
Some countries in Southern Africa fail to conduct polls in one day according to Sadc guidelines and principles, while others take months to count the ballots and announce the results.
The commission, however, called upon Zec to enhance poll preparedness and ensure timely disbursement of election materials to polling stations, intensify voter education on the legal changes introduced by the new constitution and the need for continuous voter education.
The commission said this would help reduce the number of people turned away from polling stations. The commission also called on Zec to establish warehouse facilities for the safe and secure keeping of the election materials.
Online Reporter