HARARE -- The European Union (EU) ambassador to Zimbabwe Aldo Dell'Ariccia has declared that a proper monitoring of the general elections expected in June 2011 could improve the general atmosphere of the polls. In an exclusive interview last Friday with The Zimbabwean On Sunday Dell’Ariccia said the EU would only be able to deploy an election observation mission to the much-anticipated polls, if invited by the government of Zimbabwe.
Dell’Ariccia said good observation could improve the credibility of the elections in terms of transparency and accountability. He also said the presence of observers would make people “feel more motivated to participate” and could minimize the risk of fraud.
“Election observation has to start six months before the elections,” said Dell’Ariccia. “The observation has to continue until the winner assumes power.”
The EU is involved in election observation around the world. However, in Zimbabwe, the EU has been banned from observing elections since the EU Chief Observer in 2002 was not allowed to perform his mandate and was escorted out of the country.
President Robert Mugabe insisted that only Africans could observe the polls. Ambassador Dell’Ariccia declared that “if elections in Zimbabwe are conducted in line with the SADC and AU principles and guidelines, the minimum requirements for democratic elections should be fulfilled.
These principles foresee, among others: free access to the polls, without fear of violence or intimidation; transparency in the process; freedom of the media, secured
level-playing field between candidates; protecting the integrity of the votes cast and enforcing the final results”.
He also stated that “the regional criteria for election observation are sound and, if applied should permit to certify the process”.
Dell’Ariccia said Zimbabwe was at the centre of attention within the European Parliament and that the regional assembly would welcome an invitation to observe the polls.
“However, even if the EU is not invited, the fact that African regional organisations with proper guidelines carry out the observation, could give a comprehensive, independent and impartial assessment of the electoral process” he said
Post published in: Africa News