The Zimbabwean government has invited 46 countries and 17 regional bodies to observe the August 23 harmonized elections. This is in line with President Mnangagwa’s pledge to ensure a transparent, free, and fair election.
In addition to the invited countries and bodies, all 51 embassies and nine consulates accredited to Zimbabwe have also been invited to accredit observers. This is a departure from the previous arrangement where only diplomats accredited on a full-time basis were allowed to observe the polls.
Several political parties drawn from the region have also been invited to observe the elections.
The invitation of international observers is seen as a sign of the Zimbabwean government’s commitment to holding credible elections. It is also expected to boost public confidence in the electoral process.
A team of high-level officials from Palestine has observed the harmonized elections in Zimbabwe, which were held on August 23, 2023. The team, which was headed by Mr. Hisham Kuhail, the Chief Electoral Officer of the Central Elections Commission of Palestine (CEC), found that the elections were conducted in a transparent and efficient manner, according to internationally acceptable standards.
“The opening procedures were transparent and were carried out according to international standards.” – Mr. Hisham Kuhail, Chief Electoral Officer of the Central Elections Commission of Palestine.
The team visited six polling centers in Harare, including Avondale Primary School, Strat Haven Tents, Belvedere Teachers College, Chisipite Girls School, and Nenyere Tents in Mbare. They observed long queues of voters, a peaceful environment, and the presence of local observers and party agents.
In a statement issued after the elections, the team said that the opening, closing, and counting processes were all carried out in a transparent and efficient manner. They also noted that there were no indications of voter intimidation or vote-buying.
“Polling staff proved to be competent and were able to explain all procedures to local observers and parties agents in clear and easy way. No indication whatsoever of voter intimidation or votes buying were noticed. The opening, the closing, and counting processes were carried out in a transparent and efficient manner and according to internationally acceptable standards.” Mr. Kuhail said.
The team concluded by saying that the harmonized elections in Zimbabwe were a positive step towards democracy and good governance. They expressed their hope that the elections would contribute to the stability and prosperity of the country.
The Palestinian Observers Team’s findings are in line with those of other international observers, who have also praised the conduct of the harmonized elections in Zimbabwe. These findings are a positive sign for the future of democracy in Zimbabwe.
