ZEC challenged to invite foreign observers despite ZANU PF refusal

This is in spite of refusals voiced by ZANU PF ministers over allowing foreign observation teams. Robert Mugabe’s party has insisted that this will not happen, because of targeted, restrictive sanctions still in place against some members of the ZANU PF regime.

Diplomats from Germany and Spain have both approached the national ZANU PF chairman Simon Khaya Moyo this week, requesting that observer missions from western nations be allowed into the country over the elections. These requests followed a similar plea from US State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki, who last week urged the Zimbabwe government to allow international observers, saying this would enhance their credibility.

The comments from the US official prompted an angry response from ZANU PF, with party secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa saying the western superpower “can go to hell.”

“They should allow us to travel all over the world. If they are imposing sanctions on us economically why should we allow them to come here? What do they want when they are punishing us? They can go to hell,” he said.

Khaya Moyo then reiterated this position after meeting the German and Spanish diplomats, saying: "Countries that imposed sanctions on us will not observe our elections because they cannot be seen to be fair. We are very principled on this one. We want to work with everyone but certainly not with countries that have declared illegal sanctions on us."

The MDC-T has since responded, stating that: “The coming elections are being held under the new constitution which says, only the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has authority to invite observers, not political parties.”

Political analyst and former Zimbabwean diplomat, Clifford Mashiri, said ZEC faces a “real test now,” in deciding to either allow or bar western observer teams. He told SW Radio Africa that ZEC should be acting in the best interest of the country as a whole, especially the fact that “foreign observers will help ensure there is a credible electoral process.”

Civil society groups meanwhile have petitioned the SADC leadership bloc, calling on the grouping to, among other issues, deploy an observer mission ahead of the elections. The petition was handed to Mozambican authorities last week, ahead of a summit on Zimbabwe that was set for Maputo. That summit was postponed, and it is not yet clear when it will take place.

Thabani Nyoni, the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition spokesperson, told SW Radio Africa that election observers need to be deployed urgently.

“It is important that the observation process is given more time, because having observation teams arriving only two weeks before the polls is not enough time to properly investigate and monitor the situation,” Nyoni said.

He added that, as civil society, the Crisis Coalition also supports calls for international observation teams to be allowed in the country.

“The elections are not a birthday party where you only invite your friends. This is about credibility and ensuring a democratic process, and international observers are fundamental to ensure this,” Nyoni said. – SW Radio Africa News