THE Southern African Development Community (Sadc) has lashed out at Zanu PF officials for their unrestrained verbal attacks against former Zambian vice president Nevers Mumba, who headed its observer mission for the just ended elections.
Mumba and his observer team on Friday issued a damning report on the August 23 to 24 elections, saying the polls did not meet Sadc and international guidelines on the holding of credible elections.
In the report, Sadc cited a number of irregularities such as the late opening of polling stations and intimidation of voters by the shadowy Forever Associates Zimbabwe outfit.
Zanu PF spokesperson Christopher Mutsvangwa immediately launched a personal attack on Mumba whom he described as a puppet.
The Sadc secretariat said it was not happy with the verbal attacks and threats to Mumba's life.
“The secretariat of the Sadc has noted with deep concern statements made about the Sadc Election observer mission (SEOM) and the personal attacks directed at the head of the SEOM,” Sadc said.
The regional body said the SEOM was in Zimbabwe in line with Article 3 of the 2021 revised Sadc principles and guidelines governing democratic elections.
Zambian President Haikande Hichilema, who is chairperson of Sadc’s Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, appointed Mumba to lead the regional body’s observer mission.
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“The SEOM is mandated to observe elections in terms of the Sadc Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, and all Sadc member states, including the Republic of Zimbabwe, are signatory to these principles, which have been operational since 2004,” the Sadc secretariat said.
“All Sadc member states send individuals to serve as observers under the SEOM.
“Based on observations made by the observers, who were deployed to all the provinces of Zimbabwe, and consultations with stakeholders, the SEOM issued its preliminary statement.”
The Sadc secretariat dismissed Zanu PF claims that Mumba included his personal opinions in the preliminary report.
“This statement is a summary of initial findings adopted after consultations with member states who form the Sadc Organ Troika, supported by advice from the Sadc Electoral Advisory Council (Seac), which is a body of judges from the member states, and with support from the Sadc Secretariat,” they said.
“Therefore, the SEOM preliminary statement is a collective observation position of Sadc observers, troika members, Seac and the Sadc secretariat and not a subjective opinion of one individual.
“The SEOM remains on the ground to observe the post election environment and to prepare and adopt a final report on the electoral process in Zimbabwe, still following the Sadc Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.”
