SADC:::31 JULI ELECTIONS HIGHLY COMPROMIZED!

31 July elections highly compromised: SADC-CNGO

The SADC Council of Non-Governmental-Organisations has declared that the just ended Zimbabwe harmonised elections were highly compromised and not credible.

“This Mission concludes that the credibility, legitimacy, free and fair conduct of the Zimbabwe 31 July 2013 harmonised elections and their reliability as the true expression of the will of the people have been highly compromised,” said Abie Ditlhake, the Director of SADC-CNGO.

Pronouncing the NGOs regional council’s interim observation statement on the just ended plebiscite, in the capital today, Ditlhake said the pre-electoral processes and disenfranchisement of over 750,000 urban voters and deliberate breach of the country’s laws compromised the credibility.

“During the special voting the names of those who voted were not crossed in the voters roll as required by the Electoral Act Section 56(4) (b) but only recorded on site.

“And since the indelible ink would have long been removed on the ordinary day those who voted on the special voting not recognisable,” he said.

The SADC-CNGOs observer mission deployed 150 observers under 25 teams which were distributed in all the provinces of the country focusing mostly in rural areas.

The Mission observed that one in every three voters in Mashonaland Central Province claimed to be illiterate and were assisted to vote.

“In Chiwore, out of 375 voters who had cast their vote when SADC-CNGOs observers came to the station 129 were assisted,” said Ditlhake.

He added that the provisions of Electoral Act Section 81 (F) and its sub-sections providing for transparency handling of the special votes have been violated hence that process has been compromised.

“ The unavailability of the voters roll to the political parties, candidates and the public up to the last day before elections in some areas have not only undermined Sections 20 and 21 of the Electoral Act and their subsections but also denied political parties, candidates and voters a right and time to inspect the roll,” said the director.

The NGOs regional body noted that the access to state media was biased towards Zanu (PF) while on the other side the independent media wise biased towards MDC-T.

However, SADC-CNGOs commended the peace and friendly political environment which characterised the pre-election period and during the voting day.

“The polling stations opened on time. The fact that polling stations were ready at the opening time to start, is the reflection of the high logistical preparedness of Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

“While this is commendable, the question which still lingers is why such capability to handle the ordinary elections could not be reflected in handling in the overall management of elections,” said Ditlhake.