by Richard Nyamanhindi – SANF 08 No 11
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has officially launched its mission to observe the forthcoming harmonized elections in Zimbabwe.
“We are here at the invitation of the Zimbabwean Government, but more importantly we are here because Zimbabwe is a member state so we need to take ownership of these elections,” the Director of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security, Lt-Col (rtd) Tanku Mothae, said at the launch. “All member countries will be sending their representatives. We will be working under the auspices of SADC. ”
The SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) to Zimbabwe so far comprises some 50 observers, according to the SADC Executive Secretary, Tomáz Salomão. This number will increase to 120 in the next week, in advance of the 29 March elections, more than double the number of observers that came for the 2005 parliamentary elections.
The composition of the SADC team is the fruit of preliminary work carried out on the number and size of constituencies and their boundaries and the number of candidates contesting the elections, among other issues, Salomão said.
It was after the preliminary assessment that the team was able to determine the number of observers needed and in turn wrote to member countries to nominate at least 10 observers each as there are many constituencies in this election.
The SEOM works within the framework of the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, as well as the country’s Electoral Laws.
Speaking at the launch of the observer mission, the Angolan Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairperson of the Ministerial Committee of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation, Dr. João de Miranda, said that it was the responsibility of SADC to assist Member States in their quest to consolidate democracy and democratic practices.
He said the SADC Mission was in Zimbabwe not to manage the electoral process, but to observe the management and conduct of the elections.
Article 5 of the SADC Treaty clearly outlines the objectives of SADC whereby Member States are committed to the promotion of common political values and systems.
“SADC must be committed to democratic norms and principles. It must be able to consolidate, defend and maintain democracy so that our citizens can realise and enjoy peace, security and political stability,” said Miranda.
Miranda said that the SEOM had confidence that the tradition of peace encapsulated in the political maturity and tolerance among Zimbabweans would guide the nation as they go to the polls.
“As observers we are here today to do our work of observing the electoral process prior, during and after the elections. We know our responsibilities and we will confine ourselves within our mandate so that our mission retains its credibility role as has been the case in other similar missions.”
Commenting on a statement issued by European Union foreign ministers saying the “humanitarian, political and economic problems in Zimbabwe endanger the holding of free and fair elections,” Miranda said that the fairness of the election will be determined by those on the ground and not those from the outside such as the EU.
Zimbabwe has invited 47 regional and sub-regional organisations as well as countries from Africa, Asia, the Americas and one European country; Russia to observe this month’s harmonised elections.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, has said that the observers were invited on the basis of reciprocity, objectivity and impartiality in their relationship with Zimbabwe.
Five Asian countries (China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Iran) and four from the Americas (Brazil, Jamaica, Venezuela and Nicaragua) will observe the elections.
African regional organisations invited are SADC, COMESA, the Economic Community of West African States, Pan-African Parliament, Economic Community of Central African States, and the East African Community.
Among the invited sub-regional organisations are the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) bloc, the Non-Aligned Movement, Association of South East Asian Nations, Maghreb Union, Community of Portuguese-speaking (Lusophone) countries, and Inter-Government Authorities on Development (IGAD).
