Intimidation, coercion and irregularities — that’s what election observers from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) found in their preliminary report on the Zimbabwean elections this week.
It was the first time the regional bloc had refused to endorse Zimbabwean elections since independence in 1980.
The head of the delegation, former Zambian vice-president Nevers Mumba, said the elections did not satisfy Sadc requirements and guidelines for democratic elections. He also said the polls fell short of the requirements of Zimbabwe’s constitution.
Zimbabwe held its presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections on Wednesday amid allegations of intimidation of opposition party supporters, logistical challenges and incompetence by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
The polls, marred by pre-election violence, were also criticised by observer missions from the AU, EU and the Commonwealth.
The Sadc report cited several issues, including delays in the delivery of ballot papers in Harare and Bulawayo, the failure by the ZEC to release the voters roll to contestants, and irregularities in the postal ballot.
It also cited the illegal activities of a Zanu-PF-aligned organisation, Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ), which allegedly intimidated and coerced people, particularly in rural areas, to vote for the governing party. The group allegedly set up “exit poll surveys” near polling stations where voters were forced to fill in documents indicating how they had cast their ballots.
“Observers reported that FAZ was said to be a quasi security intelligence organisation deployed to wards and about 36,000 villages.”
Observers reported that FAZ was said to be a quasi security intelligence organisation deployed to wards and about 36,000 villages
The Sadc report was welcomed by opposition parties.
Zapu spokesperson Msongelwa Ndlovu said the “historic Sadc observer mission report is groundbreaking” and “has effectively knocked Zanu-PF off their shaky ground”.
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Bulawayo spokesperson Swithern Chirowodza said: “The reports from the continental and regional bodies confirm that time for flattering Zanu-PF with false reports is gone. This also means Zanu-PF’s post–Mugabe diplomacy in Africa has crashed. Zanu-PF has overestimated its self-worth in Africa so much that Africa now sees it as a liability.”
Chirowodza said the observer mission reports vindicated Zimbabweans who have always doubted the credibility of the country's polls.
But addressing journalists on Friday, Zanu-PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa accused Mumba of unilaterally authoring the Sadc report, and defended FAZ activities as above board.
“We want to make it very clear the Sadc observer mission is a product of member states of Sadc and not administered by a particular individual who may become the head of a delegation. He is only in a delegated role,” Mutsvangwa said.
“Without prior consultation with members of his mission and without them having given reports to their countries or secretariat he decides to delve into matters which have nothing to do with his mandate.
“It is not the duty of a particular individual to arrogate to himself the role of a constitution review committee of Zimbabwe, so Nevers Mumba, we call you to order. If you have issues tell it to relevant institution.”
Presenting the AU Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa report, mission head and former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan said they found problems including the use of inaccurate population figures, gerrymandering in some areas to produce predetermined election results, and the selective application of the law in favour of Zanu-PF.
“While the mission appreciates the largely peaceful campaigns, some highlighted serious concerns regarding the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act ... [which] was being used to violate some of the fundamental freedoms,” he said.
“Opposition political parties and candidates highlighted the selective and disproportionate application of the act by the police to limit large–scale campaign rallies by the opposition.”
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