Unveiling the mission’s findings of the just ended plebiscite in the capital today, the SADC-PF Chairperson, Situmbeko Musokotwane, said Zimbabweans were accorded the opportunity to freely express their during voting.
“Based on its overall findings, the Mission is of the view that there existed a conducive and peaceful environment in which the elections were conducted.
“Accordingly the Mission declares the 2013 Zimbabwe Harmonised General Elections as having been free and fair,” said Musokotwane.
He added that the political rights and freedoms were generally respected and exercised without undue hindrance prior, during and after the elections.
The regional parliamentarians’ elections observation mission is the 30th team to be deployed since 1999 by the SADC.
It was composed of 30 parliamentarians and 30 supporting members who made 15 teams, with at least a team in each of the country’s 10 provinces, from July 14 to August 1 2013.
“It is heartening to note that over the past five years the Government of National Unity and the general populace in the face of SADC mediation agreed on and effected a raft of democratic reforms which included far reaching electoral and human rights reforms under a new constitution,” said Musokotwane.
However, the mission noted that the voters’ roll was not available on time for inspection by stakeholders and recommended that Zimbabwe Electoral Commission should take overall mandate of controlling the voters roll.
“ZEC should overall be in charge of the development, updating, printing and distribution of the voters roll and there is need for the election date to be provided for in the law in order to avoid disputes relating to its determination to avoid disputed outcomes,” he said.
Musokotwane urged ZEC to carry out research and engage stakeholders on the conducting of the special voting exercise under Zimbabwe’s mixed electoral system with a view to ensure that it does not repeat the logistical challenges that manifested during the July 14-15 special voting process.
The mission urged concerned political parties and candidates to either accept the results or take legal channels to challenge the outcome.
“Article 93 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides for the mechanism for lodging of petitions relating to the presidential election…. The law further compels the Constitutional Court to resolve such petitions with 14 days, during which period the incumbent president continues to hold office until the court declares a winner,” he said.
In addition Part XXII of the Electoral Act provides for the establishment of an Electoral Court with exclusive jurisdiction to hear appeals, applications and petitions relating to elections other than the presidential election in the country.
Post published in: News