Powerful politicians manipulated youths and used them to perpetrate violence and intimidation to ensure that they retained power, leading to intra party violence and rights violations across the political divide.
“The pre election period was characterised by nuanced, strategic and intentional targeting of human rights defenders and party activists and human rights defenders,” read the statement.
Speaking at the launch of the report at ZLHR offices in Harare today, Director of ZLHR, Irene Petras said failure by the government of national unity to de politicise state institutions had impacted negatively on the public’s perspective of adherence to the rule of law and justice delivery in Zimbabwe.
She said: “Undertakings made in the global political agreement failed to materialise.
“Key political mobilisers, personnel from civil society organisations and human rights defenders were arrested, detained and tried before the courts in efforts to remove them from their constituencies in the run – up to elections,” said Petras.
According to the report, the imposition of the July 31 election deadline by way of presidential decree destabilised the inclusive government and usurped the role and functions of parliament.
The statement said failure by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to accept assistance on voter education dispelled confidence in the electoral body, moreso after the special voting exercise.
“No measures were put in place to allow prisoners, the elderly and those in medical institutions to vote. Citizens in the diaspora were denied their right to vote despite extra ordinary measures being taken to ensure that election officers and members of the disciplined forces vote: even in violation of the constitution and electoral laws,” read the statement.
Speaking at a meeting with observers and journalists at Harare International Conference in Harare yesterday, ZEC Chairperson, Justice Rita Makarau revealed that with only two days to go for the country’s watershed elections, the registrar general could not avail the electronic voters roll.
“The unwillingness by the RG and the ZEC to comply with the law and allow final access to the voters roll until such a time as access was rendered meaningless undermined the credibility of the electoral process.
“With barely 24 hours to the poll, interested parties have failed to see copies of an updated voters roll, worsened public fears that there is fraud and manipulation of the whole electoral process,” read the statement.
ZHLR called on ZEC to comply with constitutional provisions that buttress accountability and compliance to transparency to ensure that the country holds an undisputed election.
“ZEC must anticipate and provide provisions upon request of information relating to the voter’s roll, list of assisted voters, special votes, spoilt ballots and postal ballots. The electoral body should be swift and transparent on vote counting, announcement of election results besides ensuring that they make public confirmations that all voters wishing to cast their votes will be allowed to do so in the event that there is a high voter turnout,” recommended ZLHR.
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