Story by Bruce Chahwanda, Political Editor
ELECTION Observer Missions who met the ruling ZANU PF party leadership in Harare this Monday, have agreed that Zimbabwe’s election season has largely been peaceful.
The missions, deployed in Zimbabwe for the country’s general elections are engaging various stakeholders ranging from political parties, civil society and the media to get an appreciation of the prevailing situation ahead of Wednesday’s plebiscite.
“We have engaged all stakeholders to assess the political environment,” said Prof Attahiru Muhammadu Jega-The Carter Centre.
“The political environment is commendable and we wish it to continue even after elections,” noted Mr Fabio Massimo Castaldo-EU-Election Observer Mission.
Other observer missions have commended the obtaining peaceful environment.
Commonwealth Observer Mission representative, Ambassador Amin Mohamed said, “As a commonwealth group, we are here to observe elections, we don’t monitor or supervise. We have had views from across stakeholders, from other political parties, civil society organizations and we had also views from chamber of commerce. Obviously, our expectations and gratitude that the environment has been largely peaceful which is a general view from all stakeholders.”
ZANU PF Treasurer General, Cde Patrick Chinamasa says observer missions must also question utterances by some opposition political party leaders in relation to this election.
”We have an opposition party presidential candidate saying any result which is not favourable is fake. You must go and ask what that means. In 2018 he said such statements and there was chaos, and this year, he is repeating the same sentiments.”
Meanwhile, the Carter Centre Observation Mission this Monday paid a courtesy call on Speaker of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda, with the team pledging to remain guided by principles of objectivity on their tour of duty.
Zimbabwe has invited 45 countries, 17 continental bodies and SADC member states to observe this Wednesday’s General Election.
