…says its “crude, scurrilous and misleading”
By Delicious Mathuthu
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has hit back at the government of Zimbabwe following attacks of its SADC Elections Observation Mission (SEOM) after releasing its preliminary statement on the recently held August 23 harmonised elections.
As the drama unfolds and the exchange of words between the two sides continues, the SADC Secretariat said the attacks on its SEOM Head of Mission, former Zambian Deputy President Dr. Nevers Mumba are slanderous.
“The Secretariat of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) has noted with deep concern, statements made about the SEOM and the personal attacks directed at the Head of the SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM), Dr Nevers Mumba, the former Vice President of the Republic of Zambia, since the SEOM released its Preliminary Statement on 25 August 2023.
“Some of these statements and attacks which have been aired on television, social media and newspapers are crude, scurrilous and misleading,” the SADC Secretariat said in a statement from Botswana.
They re-assured that Dr. Mumba’s appointment as the Head of Mission is of good standing, and is accompanied by several other high profile delegates from different SADC countries to work with.
“The SADC Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) is currently in the Republic of Zimbabwe to observe the electoral process of the 23-24 August Harmonised Elections in line with Article 3 of the Revised SADC Principles and Guideline Governing Democratic Elections (2021).
The Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics Defence and Security Cooperation, His Excellency Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia, appointed Dr. Nevers Mumba to lead the SEOM in Zimbabwe… mandated to observe elections in terms of the SADC principles and guidelines governing democratic elections, and all SADC member states, including the Republic of Zimbabwe, are signatory to these principles, which have been operational since 2004,” the SADC Secretariat said.
“…observers were seconded from the Republic of Angola, the Republic of Botswana, the Kingdom of Eswatini, the Republic of Malawi, the Republic of Mozambique, the Republic of Namibia, the Republic of South Africa, the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Zambia,” they said.
SADC said the preliminary statement is a summary of findings which were adopted after consultations with member states who form the SADC Organ Troika, supported by advice from the SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC), supported by the SADC Secretariat.
The organisation said the preliminary statement is a collective observation position of all mentioned organs, not a subjective opinion of one individual.
The SADC Secretariat also took the opportunity to call for continued peace in Zimbabwe, saying all griviences should be channeled through the courts for settlement.
However, in a letter addressed to the SADC Secretariat titled ‘Conflict of interest-Nevers Mumba’ from one of the faction pressure groups within Dr. Mumba’s political party in Zambia, written by one Gaston Sichilima, said as SEOM Head of Mission he is compromised as he is a close associate of Zimbabwe opposition leader, Nelson Chamisa.
In the letter, written on the 22nd of August just a day before the Zimbabwe Harmonised Elections, Sichilima also accused Dr. Mumba of defeating the principles of democracy within his political party, the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) back home by refusing to step down as its President after his two terms in office expired last year (2022).
“A week ago, Dr Nevers Mumba who is a faction leader of our party was appointed as Head of Mission for the SADC Election Observation Team to the Zimbabwe General Elections scheduled for the 23rd of August, 2023.
“…We are of the view that Pastor Mumba is not fit to act as an election observer worse more the head of mission because among others. He has refused to resign as the party President of our party even after his two 5 years each constitutional tenure ended on the 25th of May, 2022 after ascending to the MMD Presidency on the 25th of May, 2012 if the elections were to be disputed, what advise can one who is illegally holding on to a political office giving to the various parties?
“He lacks the moral fiber to be an election observer worse more a head of mission.
“Secondly, one of the participants at the Presidential Election Mr. Nelson Chamisa is a close friend of Pastor Mumba.
“With his close connection to Mr Chamisa, we feel that he can’t make an accurate and professional report in drawing up, a conclusion of the election.
“As a man of the clergy, we expected Pastor Mumba to declare interest and decline to be an election observer, worse more head the mission,” the letter by Sichilima reads.
He also called for the
withdrawal of Dr. Mumba as the Head of Mission to the elections ‘in order to promote the integrity of the elections’.
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