Zimbabwe: 'Free and Fair poll not possible' says National Democratic Institute (continued)
It further notes that "bias also can easily negate the effect of information supplied by political parties and candidates through free media access messages and paid political advertisements. It is therefore critical to the credibility of the election process that directors of state-controlled media act to ensure that bias is eliminated from its coverage, because state-controlled media have an obligation to operate in the public's interest rather than for the benefit of one political party," the observer mission says.
The mission sees the electoral framework as falling far short of 'a level playing field.' It points to qualification requirements for state funding that result in only the ruling party receiving funding from national Treasury as an example.
The report also highlights the need for large-scale voter education by electoral authorities. It says issues to be addressed would include secrecy of the vote; electoral rights of voters; and the importance of inspecting the voters roll.
The report says these conditions appear to be the product of acute political polarisation and intolerance.
"The electoral conditions fail to meet requirements contained in the Declaration of Rights of the Constitution of Zimbabwe and electoral standards based upon international instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the African Charter on Human and People's Rights, which are applicable to Zimbabwe," concludes the report.
The mission notes that in spite of these serious obstacles, political parties and the citizenry in general seem ready for the elections and are mobilising in large numbers to act as election monitors and observers. Citizens are expressing their desire for a meaningful election process that can be accepted by the ruling party and opposition political parties alike.
The mission says that for these reasons the election process warrants heightened observation by the international community. This effort must be to support a meaningful process, in which observation should be conducted in the spirit of international co-operation and in respect of the right of the people of Zimbabwe to determine freely who shall govern.
The delegation was led by Alex Ekweume, Vice President of Nigeria from 1979 to 1983 and current Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the People's Democratic Party of Nigeria and included:
Michael Hishikushitja, member of Namibia's National Council and Deputy Chief Whip for SWAPO;
Charity Kaluki Ngilu, member of the Kenya National Assembly and leader of Kenya's Social Democratic Party;
Abdul Carimo Issa, former Deputy President of the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique;
Audrey McLaughlin, former member of Parliament of Canada, Leader of Canada's New Democratic Party and past President of the Socialist International Women;
Patrick Merloe, NDI Senior Associate and Director of Programs on Elections and Political Processes.
The delegation's technical advisors included:
Professor Mandla Mchunu, Chief Electoral Officer of the Independent Election Commission of South Africa;
Patricia Keefer, NDI Regional Director for Southern Africa;
and Richard Klein, NDI Senior Program Officer.
The delegation also was assisted by:
David Kovick, NDI Program Officer in Zimbabwe;
Thabisile Mngadi, NDI Program Director in Mozambique;
and Leanne Smith, NDI Regional Coordinator.