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President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, who is also the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Troika chairperson on Wednesday convened an Extraordinary SADC summit to discuss the disputed elections held in Zimbabwe and the security situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The Government of Zimbabwe has claimed that the decision by the European Union (EU) to withdraw US$5 million support for the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) will not strain the organisation because it is fully funded by the State.
Southern African Development Community (SADC) Election Observer Mission head, Nevers Mumba has castigated Zimbabwean authorities calling him a western puppet following a damning report on Zimbabwe’s 2023 harmonised general elections saying that his attackers are “mischievous”.
Namibian president Hage Geingob is under-fire from critics in his country for endorsing Zimbabwe’s disputed 2023 election.
By James Devittie (former High Court of Zimbabwe judge)
In the growth of every electoral system, there comes a time when old practices must be modified in order to respond to emerging challenges and keep pace with contemporary developments.
Zimbabwe once again finds itself embroiled in a post -election dispute. However, this time there is a difference : Election observers appointed by the regional body SADC have, for the first time in Zimbabwe’s election history, found that Zimbabwe’s elections failed to meet the minimum standards outlined in SADC guidelines.
Zimbabwe’s main opposition party has called for fresh elections to be held under international supervision as a way of resolving the dispute.
The reality on the ground, however, is that following his inauguration this week, President Mnangagwa has begun to serve his second term. This means that even if SADC, which now appears seized with Zimbabwe’s electoral crisis, was to edge the main parties towards a rerun, the counter-argument—that under Zimbabwean law, only the Constitutional Court has the authority to set aside a Presidential election and order a rerun—is unassailable.
The ruling party’s incoming administration is unlikely relish the thought of enduring another five-year period marked by attrition, during which Zimbabwe would consistently grapple with its status as a pariah state in the eyes of Western nations- a status that carries with it the onerous burden of economic sanctions.
In considering possible pathways to navigate its way out of this impasse, Kenya’s election history offers Zimbabwe’s government salutary lessons.
Full Article: https://nehandaradio.com/2023/09/05/zimbabwe-at-the-crossroads-the-case-for-electoral-reform-and-inclusive-governance-lessons-from-kenya/
Monday “marks the beginning of another 5 years of stagnation and contested legitimacy. A period that will see cataleptic political instability, economic stagnation, contraction and massive immigration of Zimbabwean nationals. Another false decade beckons. Cry the beloved country. Cry,” Tendai Biti posted on his X (formerly Twitter).
Opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) leader Nelson Chamisa has thanked world leaders for snubbing the inauguration of President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa who is accused of benefiting from a fraudulent election.
The opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) says it is now pinning its hopes on the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) and the African Union (AU)’s intervention following its decision not to challenge President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa’s victory at the courts.
Long queues were seen at several polling stations in Harare on Wednesday morning, as Zimbabweans lined up to participate in the tightly contested general elections.
When Robert Mugabe was ousted as Zimbabwe’s president in 2017, his replacement, Emmerson Mnangagwa promised a new start for his country’s people. But as President Mnangagwa seeks re-election at the polls later this month, Zimbabweans are grappling with the same problems – high inflation, poverty and a climate of fear.