adminDeputy Attorney General (Legislative Drafting) Mr Nelson Dias told journalists at a media workshop on election reporting that Zimbabwe had adhered to all 10 Sadc principles governing democratic elections.
“Its all very clearly laid out. I can say we have complied with all of them,” he said. “Where there are disputes, there are legal structures that one can follow to lodge a complaint.”
Sadc itself recognises in its Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections that Sadc member states must create an electoral environment conducive to (i) Full participation of all citizens in the political process; (ii) Freedom of association; (iii) Political tolerance; (iv) Equal opportunity for all political parties to access the state media; and (v) Regular intervals for elections as provided for by the respective national constitutions.
In addition to these, Sadc member states must also provide, Equal opportunity to exercise the right to vote and be voted for; Independence of the judiciary and impartiality of the electoral institutions; Voter education; Acceptance and respect of the election results by political parties proclaimed to have been free and fair by the competent national electoral authorities and Challenge of the election results as provided for in the law of the land.
Mr Dias said Zimbabwe’s new Constitution provides the legal parameters in which these prerequisites are met.
Members of the Sadc Electoral Observation Mission were already in the country to monitor elections, a key issue that demonstrated the region’s support for Zimbabwe’s elections.
The Southern African Research and Documentation Centre (Sardc) organised the workshop which sought to generate deeper understanding of the electoral framework and processes in Zimbabwe and within the Sadc region as well.
Joseph Ngwawi of Sardc said Zimbabwe was the first country in 2005 to use its elections to apply the Sadc Principles and Guildlines Governing Democratic elections.
“The implementation of the electoral guidelines depends on goodwill and commitment of the member states,” he said. “The guidelines are being reviewed and the exercise should be complete by the end of the year.”
He said the reviewing of the principles was coming at a time when there was concern over issues pertaining to enforcement and other hurdles that were being encountered when elections were being held in member countries.
Online Reporter