by Munetsi Madakufamba – SANF 05 no 34
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) election observer mission has expressed satisfaction with Zimbabwe’s 31 March parliamentary elections, describing the polling process as “open, transparent and professional”.
In a press statement, South African Minerals and Energy Minister, Pumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, who is head of the SADC Observer Mission, said “SADC commends voters for high levels of political tolerance and maturity displayed” during the campaign period and on polling day.
The SADC observer mission, with 55 members from 10 of the organisation’s 13 countries, is the biggest intergovernmental group at Zimbabwe’s elections. More than 700 local and international observers were accredited to observe the poll, as well as some 500 journalists.
South Africa is heading the SADC Election Observer Mission in its capacity as the current chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation.
“The picture that emerged at the close of poll was an election day which was peaceful,” said Mlambo-Ngcuka as electoral authorities were announcing results in batches as they received them from the country’s 120 constituencies. Final results are expected on 2 April.
She added, “This confirmed the determination of the people of Zimbabwe to do their best to implement the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing democratic elections in the region.”
SADC’s observer mission is guided by a summit declaration of Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections in the region, which was adopted in Mauritius last year.
Zimbabwe is the first country in the region to formally implement the principles and guidelines and the South African minister has said the lessons from the country’s parliamentary elections, in terms of the SADC declaration, could have a positive influence on elections in other countries in the region.
Mauritius and Tanzania have elections scheduled for 2005, while Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo are expected to hold their respective polls in 2006.
There were elections in Botswana, Namibia and Mozambique in late 2004, following the adoption of the SADC guidelines, and although most of the main points are already aligned, there was not sufficient time to comply formally.
While not legally binding, the SADC principles and guidelines envisage aligning of the national electoral legislation.
SADC has called for the spirit of cooperation and political tolerance and the responsible role of Zimbabwe’s political parties, demonstrated thus far, to continue in the “post election phase as part of nation building and reconciliation”.
The regional body’s 55 observers who arrived in the country two weeks before the poll were deployed in the country’s 10 provinces where they traveled extensively “covering 90 percent of the total national constituencies and attended over 2000 meetings and political rallies organised by political parties and independent candidates”.
Said Mlambo-Ngcuka “… we were impressed by the orderliness and patience of voters, who we believe, were able to express their franchise peacefully, freely and unhindered.”
The SADC observer group has however, expressed concern over the number of people who were turned away from polling stations.
“It is still not clear to us exactly how many people were affected in this way as well as the reason for them not being able to cast their vote,” said the head of the mission.
The mission also said there is room to improve in terms of opening up state media to allow more space to the country’s opposition political parties.
While there were concerns among gender activists about the low numbers of women contesting the elections (58 women out of 270 candidates), the SADC mission lauded the gender balance in the various teams conducting the elections.
“The representation and the overall role of women in the election machinery has to be noted and commended,” said Mlambo-Ngcuka whose own group had above 40 percent women representation including the leader herself.
In line with the SADC guidelines, the regional mission will compile its detailed observation report within 30 days. (SARDC)
