Post-election statement

Other observer missions & statements

EISA Regional Election Observer Mission to the 2008 Harmonised Elections in Zimbabwe

Johannesburg, 11 April 2008

Following its interim statement of 31 March on the 2008 Harmonised Elections in Zimbabwe, EISA has continued to monitor the unfolding events in Zimbabwe in anticipation of the announcement of the final and complete election results. This statement is a follow-up which highlights issues in the post-election phase that deserve urgent attention. EISA will produce a more comprehensive and final report on the entire election process in due course. Since the poll and counting took place on 29 March 2008, EISA has noted with deep concern a number of developments that, in the overall, can seriously undermine the credibility of the already contested electoral process. These developments also have the potential to throw the country into a grave political crisis and ultimately exacerbate the suffering of the people of Zimbabwe.

EISA welcomes the initiative by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to hold an extraordinary summit in Lusaka, Zambia on Saturday 12 April 2008, to address the current situation in Zimbabwe. We wish to kindly alert SADC leaders to the following issues:

  1. The publication of results, which was painstakingly slow, was suspended before the release of the presidential outcome without any satisfactory explanation by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). This unnecessary and inexplicable delay of the announcement of the presidential poll results has led to frustration, suspicion and anxiety among the contesting parties and voters, and created simmering tension in the country;
  2. The lack of transparency on the part of ZEC, combined with its poor communication strategy about the reasons for the delay, has exacerbated the situation;
  3. The escalation of politically motivated incidents of violence and intimidation in the post-election phase creates an environment which may not be conducive to a peaceful atmosphere ahead of any possible run-off; and
  4. The unexplained closure of the ZEC National Command Centre before the announcement of the presidential results raises serious concerns regarding the credibility of the tabulation process, the integrity of election materials and the reliability of the results themselves.

EISA calls for the immediate announcement of the presidential election results. In future, specific time frames for the release of election results must be set in order to avoid uncertainty and potential disputes.

The people of Zimbabwe must be commended for the dignity and maturity they have demonstrated during this challenging time. The will of the people of Zimbabwe, as democratically expressed during the 29 March 2008 polls is not subject to negotiation. EISA therefore urges SADC leaders to ensure that the choice of Zimbabweans is ultimately protected.

Denis Kadima, Mission Leader
Khabele Matlosa, Deputy Mission Leader

 
 

Zimbabwe 2008