Observers from neighbouring Southern African countries met with several Zimbabwean political groups on Thursday to assess the running of elections in the country.
”We have been briefed that political rallies are held in different areas of the country and that campaigning is continuing,” said Nomfanelo Kota, spokesperson for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) observer mission.
Only the South African and Mauritian observers have arrived in Zimbabwe, but they have already met with the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission (ZEC), the Electoral Supervisory Commission (ESC) and SADC ambassadors.
They have also held discussions with political parties — the opposition Movement for Democratic Change and the ruling Zanu-PF.
”The mission also intends to meet the Zanu Ndonga Party,” Kota said. ”We believe it is our duty as observers to assist Zimbabweans to have credible elections.”
Kota said the findings of the mission will be published in a report that will assess ”whether the prevailing conditions and the conduct of elections gave the citizens of Zimbabwe a chance to vote freely and fairly, the counting was done honestly, and the results reflected the will of the people”.
In Zimbabwe’s 2002 elections, all African observer groups except one declared the process free and fair. However, many international and independent observers expressed severe reservations.
The MDC, the Congress of South African Trade Unions and many human rights groups have already said there is no possibility that the 2005 elections, which take place on March 31, could ”reflect the will of the people”.
South African Minister of Minerals and Energy Phumzile Mhlambo-Ngcuka, the mission’s leader, said earlier on Thursday that her team will be neutral and impartial.
”They do not represent any candidate or political party. The observers will execute their mandate with neutrality and impartiality without interfering with the electoral process,” she said. — Sapa