Bulawayo 24/ Newsday
THE European Union Election Observer Mission (EU EOM) has said Zimbabwe's August 23 and 24 harmonised elections were not credible due to a plethora of anomalies ranging from the curtailment of rights to a lack of a level playing field.
Invited by the government to observe the country's polls, the EU disclosed that the mission faced significant challenges to meet officials at the national level, including the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) which they managed to meet only once.
In its final report on Zimbabwe's plebiscite, the EU said citizens faced severe restrictions due to a shrinking space for civic activities.
"The August 23, 2023 harmonised elections in Zimbabwe were marked by a curtailment of rights and freedoms and the lack of a level playing field, which limited voters' ability to make their choices in a genuinely free and pluralistic environment," the report partly reads.
"A palpable fear of violence underlay the electoral process throughout, and a climate of retribution developed after the elections."
The report also concurs with the Sadc EOM final report which described the country's polls falling short of internal, regional and international standards.
"The campaign environment was subdued, but marked by tensions and instances of violence and intimidation, with undue limitations placed on the freedom of assembly, as well as a playing field that was tilted in favour of the incumbent and the ruling party. Most EU EOM observers received reports of Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ) actively intimidating voters throughout the campaign, especially in rural areas," the report reads.
FAZ, a Zanu-PF affiliate led by Central Intelligence Organisation co-deputy director-general, Brigadier-General Walter Tapfumaneyi, is accused of making sure President Emerson Mnangagwa and his party won the polls.
EU added that the election results, which saw Mnangagwa declared the victor, could not be independently verified due to the absence of publicly available data, disaggregated by polling stations and the undermining of the sample-based projection of results which were supposed to have been conducted by citizen observer groups.
Armed police stormed Zimbabwe Electoral Support Network (Zesn) offices in Harare on election day, arrested 40 election monitors and seized computers and other election-related material being used by the poll watchdog to follow the election.
"Until election day, the technical implementation of the electoral process was largely conducted in line with the electoral calendar. However, a lack of guarantees for independence, transparency and significant delays in the opening of a considerable number of polling stations on election day reduced public trust in Zec and the efficiency of the electoral preparations. Throughout the electoral period, Zec's activities were characterised by a lack of transparency and insufficient communication," the report further reads.
The EU said the post-electoral environment saw a further deterioration in the human rights situation, due to crackdowns on civil society, with certain human rights defenders and opposition figures targeted.
Since the August polls, Zimbabwe has witnessed a surge in cases of politically-motivated abductions, enforced disappearances and murder of opposition members.
"In this context, comprehensive and meaningful reforms, and the political will to engage in them are necessary on the part of the Zimbabwean authorities to lay the ground for genuine and credible elections in the future," the EU said, adding that the bloc proposed 21 recommendations, among them to ensure that Zec and its staff are able to operate without political influence at all levels.
The EU has since suspended the US$5 million funding extended to Zec over the disputed polls.
https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-local-byo-237447.html
ZIMEYE REPORT
BRUSSELS, 17 November 2023 – Today, the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Zimbabwe published its final report on the 23 August 2023 harmonised elections. This report offers a set of key recommendations to improve future electoral processes. EU EOM Chief Observer, Fabio Massimo Castaldo, underscored in the final report presentation: “While election day was largely calm, it was assessed as disorderly. The process curtailed fundamental rights, overall, and lacked a level playing field, which was compounded by intimidation. During the post-electoral period, the EU EOM observed a climate of retribution.”
“I would like to emphasise that the EU EOM came to Zimbabwe as a partner and in the spirit of achieving common goals to further advance democratic processes. It is important to also view the EU EOM’s recommendations in this context. It is up to Zimbabweans to take ownership of their implementation. The European Union remains ready to assist such efforts”, said Mr. Castaldo.
Out of 21 recommendations, the EU EOM lists 7 as a priority. In particular, the EU EOM considers that a comprehensive and meaningful electoral reform is needed to bring legislation in line with regional and international standards espoused by Zimbabwe.
The EU EOM also recommends that measures are taken to ensure that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and its staff are able to operate without political influence at all levels, including in their appointment mechanisms and by removing governmental approval of its regulations. Further, the EU EOM recommends that ZEC provides timely and comprehensive information on all aspects of electoral preparations to the public, including its decisions and regulations and that ZEC publishes timely electoral results, disaggregated by polling station.
To safeguard the right of assembly, it is recommended to amend the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act (MPOA), to limit discretionary application and ensure that its implementation never unduly limits the right to assemble. To safeguard the independence of the judiciary, the EU EOM recommends reviewing the appointment procedures of judges to guarantee the separation of powers.
Further, the EU EOM recommends to establish and implement effective mechanisms to prevent undue restrictions on observation activities, and to prevent pressure and intimidation of both citizen and international observers
The recommendations are the quintessence of the work of the EU EOM, which comprised some 150 observers from all 27 EU member states and its partner countries Canada, Norway and Switzerland”, said Mr Castaldo.
“The EU EOM was invited by the Government of Zimbabwe. In accordance with an Administrative Arrangement between the government and the European Union, the mission conducted an independent and impartial long-term assessment of all aspects of the entire electoral process. The EU EOM did not interfere in the elections at any time and has no interest in the results”, underlined Mr. Castaldo.
https://www.zimeye.net/2023/11/17/eu-eom-zimbabwe-publishes-its-final-report-on-the-2023-harmonised-elections-including-key-recommendations/
The EU report is just a copy and paste of the 2018 report; the 2023 elections were repeat of the 2018 elections because not even one token reform was implemented. It does not help when those should be pushing for reforms are adamant they don’t reforms because they devised winning in rigged elections strategies!
The challenge before this nation is: Are we, Zimbabweans, smart enough to finally get the democratic reforms implemented and put an end to the insanity of rigged elections and bad governance? After 43 years of Zanu PF mafiosi rigging elections and 23 years of believing MDC/CCC oxymoronic nonsense they can win rigged election; has the penny finally dropped!
@ Tich General
ReplyDelete“Can we do this Mukori next week Starting Monday please, talk about Mnangagwa only as he is right in Public Office. Don't say anything about Chamisa. Say all failures of Mnangagwa he should be accountable so much. Start this evening my man.”
I should not say MDC/CCC leaders have done anything wrong and yet I know they sold out on reforms and are the ones keeping Zanu PF in power by participating n flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy. Why would anyone, anyone with half a brain, want to do such an idiotic thing?
The only people to benefit from denying CCC leaders are corrupt and incompetent are the party leaders themselves who continue to enjoy the benefits of their gravy train seats and the blind support of the public. Zanu PF are the main beneficiary as their continued corrupt and tyrannical rule has become totally dependent on CCC leaders’ greed and blundering incompetence.
You are not just asking me say nothing about Chamisa’s failures, you have never ever admitted to him failing; you believe Chamisa is infallible and he is the country’s only hope of getting out of this mess. How anyone can still believe Chamisa is infallible in the face of the mountain of evidence of CCC corruption and incompetence beggars belief.
But then, it explains why Zimbabwe is a failed state; we have some of the most ignorant, naive and gullible voters in the world! Of course, I will ignore your stupid advice!
Like it or not Zanu PF has managed to stay in power these last 23 years, especially during and after the 2008 GNU, thanks to the greed and breathtaking incompetence of MDC/CCC leaders. The people of Zimbabwe have risked life and limb to elect MDC/CCC into power for the primary purpose of bring about democratic changes and end the curse of rigged elections and bad governance.
ReplyDeleteWe must now deal with the political reality that CCC will never implement any reforms and find others who will! Whether 2028 elections are going to be a repeat of the past madness or Zimbabwe’s first ever free, fair and credible elections will depend on what we do from today onwards. The thousand mile journey starts with a humble first step. Acknowledging that CCC has failed is that difficult first step because as long as we believe in CCC’s oxymoronic nonsense of winning rigged elections we will not look for quality leaders with the urgency the matter demands.
@ Chin’ono
ReplyDelete“Intriguingly, incumbent CCC Members of Parliament (MPs) are rallying behind this idea as they earnestly seek a resolution to the party's ongoing crisis. The spectre of CCC splitting does not take seasoned political observers by surprise, as divisions within opposition parties have consistently characterised Zimbabwe's political landscape.
Chamisa's leadership style, coupled with corruption within the CCC, has taken a toll on his popularity, causing it to dwindle significantly.”
In a leaked cable back to Washington the USA ambassador to Zimbabwe 2004 to 2007, Chris Dell, said Tsvangirai “was a flawed and indecisive character who would be an albatross round the nation’s neck if he ever got into power.” He could have said the same about all the other CCC leaders.
The real tragedy is that whilst ambassador Dell was able to realise that MDC leaders were hopelessly incompetent after meeting them a handful of times, many Zimbabweans have yet to realise this even with the benefit of hindsight. Even with the MDC’s failure to implement even one reform in five years of the GNU!
Zanu PF has managed to stay in power these last 23 years thanks to the corrupt and breathtakingly incompetence of CCC leaders. Until the penny finally drops and the people finally accept CCC are an albatross round the nation’s neck, this country will continue to sink into the abyss.
Those who will not learn from the past are destined to repeat the same mistake. We have had rigged elections for 43 years because we have the naivety to believe in the oxymoronic nonsense of winning rigged elections. We have learned nothing and so 2028 is set to be another repeat of rigged elections.
MDC/CCC has been characterised with chaos and confusion and thus calling it Wapusa Wapusa is not off the mark. The crying tragedy is that many Zimbabweans have remained blindly faithful to these corrupt and incompetent men and women these last 23 years. It speaks volumes of these followers and explains why Zimbabwe is a failed state!
ReplyDelete@ Bakedha
ReplyDelete“Tichati munhu ari normal yet avakumhanya mushini.You varakashi can you exosize one of yours.This Wiribert is provorking the whole group.”
Address the issues raised and stop the nonsense attacking the messenger to avoid the message! Zimbabwe is a failed state and we cannot have yet another rigged 2028 elections because we cannot admit CCC leaders have not only failed but are the mile-stone dragging the nation deep into the crushing abyss!
Are we going to deal with the problem or allow a vocal but brain-dead majority bully us into silence?
@ Xavi
ReplyDeleteCCC is under 2 years old. Where is the history of a long service coming from?😂😂😂
Mnangagwa has never acknowledge he and his fellow Zanu PF cronies played in Mugabe’s 37 years of reign of corruption and terror. He and Chiwenga were responsible for the political coup that stopped MDC getting into power in 2008, he was Mugabe’s number one henchman in the Gukurahundi massacre, etc. When he stage the military coup that removed Mugabe, his number one priority was to rename Zanu PF the Second Republic and distance himself from Mugabe days. Only fools would fail for that, particularly when the Second Republic has carried on with the same corrupt, repressive and vote rigging agenda.
Chamisa and most of the CCC leaders were is the various MDC factions that have failed to implement even one reform in 23 years. The are the same corrupt and incompetent leaders or be it have a new party name and regalia. The way you keep wittering about CCC being a new party shows you too are ashamed of Chamisa’s track record and are hoping to bury it.
A cobra does not seize to be a poisonous snake just because it has shed off its old coat! We have more pressing things to deal with than wasting time on stupid and trivial matters like pretending a cobra seizes to be a poisonous because it has shed off its coat. Chamisa and Mnangagwa have a history and it is idiotic to pretend they don’t just because they are rightly ashamed of it!
@ Changamire Dombo
ReplyDelete“Same like you , like it or not you are a rapist usatoramba zvako.”
Zimbabwe is a failed state and we, as a nation, need to deal with this. The first step in dealing with this is defining the problems the nation is facing and finding the solutions. One of the things that have held us back these years is the vocal and brain-dead majority who cannot accept that political leaders are fallible mortals. Even now with a mountain of evidence that MDC/CCC sold out big time there are those who still hang on to the idiotic idea that Chamisa is a demigod who is incapable of doing wrong and no mortal should hold him to democratic account.
The brain-dead “Chamisa Chete Chete!” have resorted to all manner of dirty tricks to silence all those who have dare to hold their demigods to account. The normal string of dirty tricks include calling the critics names, howling them into silence, etc. When everything else fail they create false stories for the sake of blackmail.
These dirty tricks are not new, these are all taken from the Zanu PF modus operandi. Zanu PF successfully silenced Bulawayo’s Bishop Ncube by blackmailing him with stories of adultery.
You have made countless allegation accusing me of rape but have never produced the evidence because it is all lies. The lies will draw attention away from MDC’s failure to implement reforms, etc. and stifle meaningful public debate. The blackmail is to silence not only me but all those out there who will dare criticise Chamisa!
Zimbabwe’s political system is so toxic it is little wonder many men and women of substance have decided to stay out of public life.
Implementing the democratic reforms, holding free and fair elections and holding those in public office to democratic account are all vital in our fight to end the curse of rigging elections and bad governance.
Of course, it is disappointing that the voices of those fighting for change are being drowned by the howling monkeys. What makes it worse is the monkeys have not only a loud voice they have a vote too!
The people will not follow him blindly if they knew and understood that MDC sold out. Ignorance is one of the reasons why Zimbabwe is a failed state! And knowledge is the cure of ignorance!
ReplyDelete@ Priest
ReplyDelete“The Problem is not MDC or CCC, the problem is Zanu PF government full of thugs, therefore Zimbabwe has become a play ground for useless nonsense,
There is no law that protect the civilians.
The civilians are the target by a useless government.”
I will be the first one to agree with you that the Zanu PF regime is full thugs but that is no excuse for MDC/CCC leaders’ failure to implement even one token democratic reform during the GNU.
The people of Zimbabwe have risked all to elect MDC/CCC leaders into power for the express purpose they will bring about the democratic changes necessary to stop Zanu PF rigging elections. After 23 years, 5 of which in the GNU, MDC/CCC have not only failed to implement even one token reform but worst of all they have given up on reforms and have being participating in flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy out of greed.
Many people’s failure to understand the nation had set MDC leaders to task of implementing the reforms, what those reforms are and much less how the reforms were to be implemented is at the very heart of why we are still stuck in this mess. The primary task of the GNU was to implement the reforms and MDC wasted that opportunity. It is tragic that many people have no clue MDC sold out big time during the GNU, even now with the benefit of hindsight.
Democracy only works when the people are informed and diligent. Many of our people are ignorant, naive and gullible. We have done nothing to deserve a healthy and functioning democracy; if we want one then we must earn it!
I share your sentiments 100 % . We are in this mess because we literally worship leaders . Mugabe destroyed the country's economy for years because of our failure to censure him despite witnessing gross human rights violations. The likes of Tony Gara likened him to the Messiah.
ReplyDeleteIt is unfortunate that we display high levels of intolerance to people who seek democracy and transparency in CCC. As long as we maintain this posture, Zimbabwe will remain a cursed nation because CCC will dismally fail to bring about the much needed change. Chamisa has failed to embrace notable opposition politicians who would have brought sanity to CCC, the likes of Tendai Biti, Welshman Ncube and Tapiwa Mashakada. He has surrounded himself with SRC Representative who literally worship him. His imposition of candidates for election is dictatorial.”
Zimbabweans have a binary mentality. The reason why Zimbabweans came out in their hundreds of thousands in support of the military in the November 2017 coup because, in their blinked mentality, they thought their choice was between Mugabe and Mnangagwa. For a rabbit, the choice between a cobra and black mamba is no choice. Period!
Sadly, we have learned nothing. The choice between Zanu PF and CCC is no choice given the later not only failed too implement even one reform in 23 years but have been participating in flawed elections to give Zanu PF legitimacy out of greed! CCC have given up on reforms and free elections, of course, it is very foolish for people to continue supporting the party blindly like sheep to the slaughter.
@ Hakunavanhu
ReplyDelete“Nhaiwe Wilbert, don’t tell me you are so daft that for all the years that I’ve seen your DAILY rants on social media, hausati waona kana kuziva ari kukonzeresa maproblems ari mu Zimbabwe.”
Well, we cannot all be as super smart as you. Please do tell, who is causing all the problems in Zimbabwe!
@ Dombo
ReplyDeleteI am the one causing all the problems in Zimbabwe? It is nice to be mentally retardant who can manufacture all manner lies to blackmail those who dare hold Chamisa to account. It is great that village idiots like you have been allowed to act with impunity!
@ Ladismavusa
ReplyDelete“Real stupidity is when a Zimbabwean goes out and witnesses better systems which he feels if implemented in his home area it will be the thing. He comes home and vilifies all who are in the homeland. No one has a monopoly to wisdom, sit down and help solve your problem without calling people stupid. One day you will find out that you monopolised stupidity. People are not stupid please note. If you plant a crop and violent winds come and destroy everything people like you will always come and say you should have built a glasshouse over your field hence you are stupid.....think critically.there are overnight solutions to the problems we have but its not feasible to achieve via a pile of corpses,”
Actually real stupidity is going “out and witnesses better systems” which you KNOW is good but resist implementing it because the system is from the West. Of course, it would be common sense to implement the system.
It was the Chinese Leader, Deng Xiaoping who famously said "It doesn't matter whether a cat is black or white, as long as it catches mice." That is being pragmatic! Some thing you will not know anything about; you are just too smart and wise!
Zimbabwe is a failed state, the country’s economy is in total meltdown, after 43 years gross mismanagement and rampant corruption. The nation has failed to hold free, fair and credible elections in 43 years! But, of course, none of this has anything to do with being stupid.
PARLIAMENT has upheld the recall of Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators who were expelled from the National Assembly by its self-proclaimed interim Secretary General (SG) Sengezo Tshabangu with Speaker Jacob Mudenda saying a High Court interdict was not effective.
ReplyDeleteOn Tuesday 13 MPs and five senators were recalled by Tshabangu whose power trip continues in the opposition unabated.
The 13 including Amos Chibaya and deputy spokesperson Ostallos Siziba were recalled before the High Court issued an interim interdict pending a case before it.
CCC approached the High Court in a bid to stop Tshabangu’s hand in recalling its MPs which has resulted in more than 30 legislators being expelled.
By elections cost money, time and sweat and after so many recalls, the nation must recover some of these costs. One way would be to withholding the payments to the offending party from the Political Party Finance Act. The nation has been in election mode for the last ten years thanks to the endless recall of elected officials especially by the opposition. Enough is enough!
@ Ronita
ReplyDelete“What’s up buddy? The domain & responsibility of NC is different from that which the dictator operates. They’re not comparable at all bcs the dictator operates in a ‘me only’ domain & keeps out even his own ppl frm his party. The opposition is kept away frm the economic domain and they’ve no say. So, what is NC being held accountable for? Running CCC? I’m not suggesting that it’s not important to scrutinise how political parties are run.
Ppl will focus on ZPF bcs it is what ZPF does that affects the country & causes all the disasters that have destroyed our economy and impoverished our lives. Ppl wldnt care about ZPF if they had nothing to do with what’s happening in the country and how it’s hurting people’s lives. ZPF has run 2 dictatorships since 1980 - they haven’t learnt anything democratic in terms of governance. That’s what irks ppl - not their name or who their president is.
A gvmt that gets into power through a coup is a disaster frm the word go. This was the worst kind of a coup. ZPF v ZPF. Then u hear ZPF supporters arguing that CCC is unorganized etc. ….. Where are they talking from 🤷🏾♀️.
When it came to the coup, I believe most Zbweans celebrated incl those in opposition parties - CCC celebrated. I have a big problem about that as it was the most shortsighted thing Army Zbwean cld do. Munangagwa oversaw a genocide - a coup wld only end up one way - usher in an abusive regime. Of course O didn’t like Mugabe’s life presidency. Zbweans sjld havd pressured ZPF to adopt a 2 5-year presidency like civilized countries. Right now, ZPF is doing these silly elections so they can get more seats & create a life presidency for Munangagwa.
No matter how u love ZPF and/or Munangagwa - pls don’t go that far. What is wrong with ZPF & life presidencies? That serves their corruption agenda and nothing else. That’s what destroys our country - not CCC & its structures.”
You are right, “The domain & responsibility of NC is different from that which the dictator operates.” The next step is to clearly define what is the opposition’s domain and to hold them to democratic account for their performance in that domain.
By the late 1990s the people of Zimbabwe came to the conclusion that Zanu PF was a party of incompetent, corrupt and ruthless thugs who were dragging the whole nation into hell-on-earth. The nation also realised that as long as Zanu PF was able to rig the elections the nation was stuck with the regime. The solution was to bring about a raft of democratic changes necessary to stop Zanu PF rigging the elections.
Part 2 of 2
ReplyDelete@ Ronita
“What’s up buddy? The domain & responsibility of NC is different from that which the dictator operates. They’re not comparable at all bcs the dictator operates in a ‘me only’ domain & keeps out even his own ppl frm his party.
The people of Zimbabwe have risked life and limb these last 23 years to elect MDC/CCC leaders into power on the understanding the party would bring about the necessary democratic reforms. Nelson Chamisa, as leader of the main opposition, just like Morgan Tsvangirai before him, main task and domain is to implement the democratic reforms and stop Zanu PF rigging elections.
After 23 years on the political stage, including 5 in the GNU, MDC/CCC have not only failed to implement even one reform they have been participating in flawed elections to perpetuate the dictatorship out of greed. You don’t believe me then here is some one else saying the same thing.
“The (2013) electoral process was so flawed, so illegal, that the only logical step was to withdraw, which would compel SADC to hold Zanu PF to account. But such was the distrust between the MDC-T and MDC-N that neither could withdraw for fear that the other would remain in the elections, winning seats and giving the process credibility,” confessed David Coltart in his Book, The Struggle Continues 50 years of Tyranny in Zimbabwe.
Of course, MDC/CCC must be held to account for selling out on reforms more so because without reforms the nation will never ever get rid of Zanu PF and get out of the hell-hole!
There are those who think CCC must not be held to account because people like Chamisa are infallible demigods. How any one who has already proven to be corrupt and incompetent can be a demigod beggars belief. All those holding public office are and must be accountable to the people - that is not negotiable!
Of course, it is disappointing that such simple truths as reforms, free elections and democratic accountability are subjects of heated debates only goes to show just how shallow, thick and slow some people are! No wonder we are a failed state!
@ Dombo
ReplyDelete“But honestly this guy Mukori is a disgrace, he failed to lead his own party even for 3 months but what he knows is attacking Chamisa .No plan to find solutions for fixing the mess caused by Zanu.”
What is disgraceful in holding CCC leaders to democratic account for their treasonous betrayal the nation in failing to implement the democratic reforms. The real disgrace here is the nincompoops who believe CCC leaders are infallible demigods even in the face of all the evidence of the corruption and breathtaking incompetence. Worst of all the nincompoops teaming up to form the howling monkeys to drown out demands for democratic accountability. Indeed some of the monkeys are now into blackmail.
If CCC was ever to get into government we will see the same things Zanu PF has been doing, prosecuting the independent press, arrest and abduction of critics, etc. No doubt the howling monkeys have been compiling the list of “disgraceful” to be send straight to Chikurumbi!
No one can deny that SADC does not have good track record. Still credit where credit is due, SADC sponsored the 2008 to 2013 GNU which, if MDC had not sold out by failing to implement even one token reforms, could have ended the Zanu PF dictatorship.
ReplyDeleteJust say what you do not agree with and stop being so cryptic!
ReplyDeleteTrue but one cannot dismiss the possibility that after the disappointment of 2008 SADC did not want to be involved again particularly when there was no evidence that Zimbabweans had learned from the past!
ReplyDelete