By Dumisani Ndlovu
The Southern African Development Community Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) has condemned series of irregularities by the Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC), which they say compromises free and fair elections.
Although SEOM acknowledged the generally calmness and peacefulness in the country towards and during elections, in the Preliminary Statement on the conduct of the 2023 Harmonised Elections Zimbabwe released this afternoon His Excellency Dr. Nevers Mumba, said in the previous stakeholders meeting, they noted with concern the existence of a shadowy organisation referred to as Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ), which was accused of conducting a country-wide exercise of electoral intimidation.
The Mission said was informed that the rural vote may be compromised by alleged intimidation attributed to a group called Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ), which is said to be a quasi-security intelligence organisation. The group was said to have been deployed to wards and around 36,000 villages. The allegations were that people were intimidated to vote in a particular manner and were warned that it would be easy to determine who voted against certain parties.
“Our observers confirmed the existence of this group as its officials or agents were easily identifiable at some polling stations as they were dressed in regalia emblazoned with the FAZ name and were accredited local observers,” read the statement.
The SADC observer said FAZ members and other unidentified persons who were not polling officials were also observed taking down the names of voters before they cast their votes.
“In some areas, voters were intimidated by actions of these individuals,” said Dr. Mumba
Dr. Mumba who is former Zambia Vice President said SEOM was also noted the delay in the release of the voters roll by ZEC officials in a searchable and analyzable format as prescribed by the Electoral Act.
The Mission also raised concern on the Patriot Act which they say is incompatible with the spirit of section 61(1) of the Constitution, and paragraph 4.1.2 of the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections which requires Member States to uphold, amongst others, the freedom of expression, “read the statement.
“The Patriot Act creates the offence of “Wilfully injuring the sovereignty and national interest of Zimbabwe, development stakeholders were particularly concerned that this offence is vague, too general, and it criminalises,” Any communication between two or more persons, whether happening in person or virtually or by a combination of both, which involves, or is facilitated or convened by, a foreign government or any of its agents, proxies or entities.” He said.
The Zimbabwean elections were observed in line with the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021) and the relevant laws of the Republic of Zimbabwe.
The SADC Electoral Observation Mission was composed of 68 observers, 50 of which were deployed to the 10 provinces of the Zimbabwe, and the rest were based at the SEOM headquarters here in the Rainbow Towers Hotel.
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