|
Interim Statement by the South African
Observer Mission to the Zimbabwean Presidential Elections
INTERIM STATEMENT BY THE SA OBSERVER MISSION TO THE
ZIMBABWEAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS OF 9 AND 10 MARCH
200
1. Pursuant to the invitation by the President of Zimbabwe,
Robert Mugabe, the South African President, Thabo Mbeki,
assigned a 50-person observer mission led by Dr Sam
Motsuenyane, to observe the Zimbabwean Presidential
elections of 9 and 10 March 2002;
2. The South African Observer Mission (SAOM) arrived
in Zimbabwe in three phases from the 13th of February
2002, to ensure that in its mission it observes the
pre-election, polling days and the post-elections period;
3. Based on its mandate and its method of work which
included mediation and conflict management, the SAOM
recognised the sovereignty of the Zimbabwean state and
observed the elections within the Zimbabwean legislative
framework in an independent and non-partisan manner;
4. The members of the SAOM were deployed in all the
electoral provinces of Zimbabwe to ensure not only geographic
representativity, but also to cover the country-side
and what were perceived to be high risk areas;
5. The SAOM was also cognisant of the international
and regional significance of the Zimbabwean elections;
6. Overall, the 2002 Zimbabwean Presidential elections
were a challenging exercise, and the authorities charged
with conducting the elections discharged their work
satisfactorily, except for the decision to reduce the
number of polling stations in some urban areas - a decision
which resulted in certain instances in excessively long
queues and the extension of polling hours in most stations
and days in Harare and Chitungwiza;
7. Based on its method of work and the deployment of
its members, the SAOM hereby makes its interim observations
as follows:
7.1 The regulatory environment
The promulgation of laws, right up to and during the
elections, that were aimed specifically to cover the
administration, regulation and management of the said
elections; the reversal of some of these by the courts;
the gazetting of regulations to override the courts
- all created an environment that not only caused legislative
uncertainty but also threatened the integrity of the
electoral process.
7.2 The electoral process
7.2.1. Pre-election assessment
Campaigning was characterised by polarisation, tension
and incidents of violence and intimidation. The intention
seems to have been to intimidate members of other parties.
The role of the SAOM and other international observers
as well as the co-operation of the Zimbabwean authorities,
ensured that these tensions and conflicts remained at
a minimal level, thus polling days did not suffer from
the same.
7.2.2 Media
The Constitution of Zimbabwe provides for a free press.
The media in the country is characterised by a high
level of political polarisation. The so-called independent
media was biased towards the opposition MDC whilst the
state-owned media gave limited access to the opposition,
favouring instead the ruling ZANU-PF party. As for the
international media, its role during these elections
tended to be overwhelmingly in support of the opposition.
7.2.3 Polling days assessment
Conduct of the electorates, security forces, party agents
as well as the closely followed rules of voting, counting
and transparency procedures, all contributed to the
relative peacefulness of the voting days. It is unfortunate
that some registered voters were turned away because
of administrative oversight. Voter turnout was, however,
among the most important in Zimbabwe's 22 years of electoral
history.
7.3. Post-election assessment
The end of elections should provide the people of Zimbabwe
with the opportunity to address what we believe are
the country's key challenges: reconciliation and economic
revival.
8. The SAOM is heartened by the fact that the opposition,
notwithstanding the comments expressed above, actively
participated in the campaign and the elections themselves,
thus legitimising the outcome of the said elections;
9. Similarly, the Zimbabwean people, in going out to
vote in droves on the polling days, not to mention their
perseverance in the long queues and slow voting processes,
demonstrated their commitment to expressing their will
in determining who should be their President;
10. Based on our observations, it is the view of the
SAOM that the outcome of the 2002 Zimbabwe Presidential
elections should be considered legitimate;
11. The SAOM wishes to thank the Government and People
of Zimbabwe, including all political parties, for having
received it and made it possible for us to contribute
to their democratic process;
12. We are hopeful that now that the people of Zimbabwe
have spoken, the world will respect their verdict.
Signed
Dr. Sam Motsuenyane
Leader: The South African Observer Mission
Harare, 13 March 2002
|
