JOHANNESBURG — Civil society group Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition says the participation of the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) and international observers is important to ensure elections taking place next year were free and fair.
Report by BusinessDay
The coalition held a briefing in Johannesburg on Wednesday and called Sadc to ensure transparency in the elections and for activism to continue among civil society groups in the region and internationally.
However, political analyst Ibbo Mandaza said last week, elections would most likely take place in 2015 because the country’s laws were not fully aligned with the new constitution.
Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara on Tuesday said elections would go ahead in 2013 regardless of whether the new constitution is adopted and that the current Constitution would determine when elections will be held.
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition director McDonald Lewanika said it was in the region’s best interests to ensure elections were free and fair, for the sake of stability in the region.
Harare Residents’ Association not expecting Zimbos to return
COMBINED Harare Residents’ Association chief executive officer Mfundo Mlilo said he did not expect Zimbabweans living and working in other continents to return to Zimbabwe to vote, but partners were trying to motivate those in neighbouring countries to return and cast their ballots.
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“We already have trouble spots in the region and it is not in Sadc’s interest to add one more through a disputed election in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Thabani Nyoni, a spokesman for the coalition, said Sadc and especially South Africa, had a critical role in ensuring the “democratisation of Zimbabwe”.
“South Africa has been mandated by the Sadc community of nations to ensure that it mediates Zimbabwe into credible, free and fair elections.
“Their role continues to be expected in terms of ensuring the full implementation of the Global Political Agreement reforms,” he said.
