President-ELECT Emmerson Mnangagwa and MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa have been challenged to demonstrate good leadership and unite the politically-polarised Zimbabweans.
BY TAFADZWA MUTACHA
Addressing journalists in Harare, National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (Nango) chairperson Wadzanayi Vere said Mnangagwa and Chamisa must unify the nation following polarisation caused by last week’s disputed polls.
“Our call then is for leaders of our country, both Zanu PF and MDC Alliance, to demonstrate good leadership. They should come in and be able to put the country together, so that the country stands as one united front. It’s any opportunity for both of them to demonstrate good leadership and we are waiting and wanting to see how they will represent the people,” Vere said.
“There is need for an expression of people’s will to come out and engagement of political candidates and players in this process. We realised that our society is very polarised. Unfortunately, it creates room for conflict and tension and we are saddened by the violence that happened.”
Vere said there were a number of anomalies observed during the just-ended elections.
“Though the scope and extent of the impact of the observed anomalies on the outcome of the elections could not be immediately ascertained, they in themselves constitute serious electoral deficits. This mission concludes that the credibility, legitimacy, free and fair conduct of the July 30 harmonised elections and, therefore, their reliability as the true expression of the will of the people of Zimbabwe has been compromised,” he said.
Nango was accredited as a local observer by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) and had 342 observers manning polling stations, while roving teams visited other centres covering 3 244 polling stations before and during voting and counting.
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Vere said Zec’s independence was compromised.
“There has been a huge concern ahead of the 2018 harmonised elections on the level of Zec autonomy, resulting in lack of confidence in Zec and this compromised its independence and professional integrity. The commission was seemingly susceptible to influence by the ruling party Zanu PF,” Vere added.
