Zimbabwe's ruling party says EU election report is an 'opposition script'

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s ruling party has dismissed the European Union Observation mission (EUEOM) report on the July 30 elections, describing it as a an ‘MDC-Alliance script’, reports the state run Herald.

EUEOM released its final report and recommendations to the country on Wednesday, with a view of positively contributing to Zimbabwe’s electoral management process.

“These recommendations are offered to help address a number of the shortfalls outlined in this report, including problems with the legal framework, the role of the electoral commission, and various abuses of human rights and political rights of the opposition,’‘ said the EUEOM chief observer, Elmar Brok.

The ZANU-PF legal secretary, Paul Mangwana said the party is happy to have met the standards of the observer missions from the African Union and the regional SADC bloc.

“It is their opinion and it remains so. We are measured by Sadc and AU standards and we met those standards. The AU and Sadc said so. We cannot be measured by standards we know nothing about,” he said.

The final EUEOM report reiterated issues raised in its preliminary report three days after the July 30 election.

While the observers noted the peaceful campaign process, and increased freedoms of expression, assembly and civic participation, it nevertheless had recommendations in the key areas of;

Independence of the electoral commission (ZEC)

EUEOM proposed timely relay of information by ZEC to enhance confidence in the process. The delay by ZEC to release provisional results of the presidential election was one of the factors that could have led to the deadly opposition protests in the aftermath of voting.

EUEOM also recommended that ZEC develops its results management process to enhance verifiability and traceability.

“The EUEOM suggests in order to enhance confidence in the process, to strengthen the independence of ZEC,’‘explained the Chief Observer.

An improved level playing field

“State-owned media must be more impartial in its coverage, legal measures should be introduced to mitigate abuse of incumbency and of state resources and campaign finance regulations should be introduced to enhance accountability” said Elmar Brok.

The legal framework

“To improve the legal framework for the elections, legislation should be brought into line with the 2013 Constitution; and appropriate time limits for the determination of pre-election disputes need to be established”, added Brok.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change Alliance, whose candidate Nelson Chamisa, lost the presidential election, filed an election petition with the Constitutional Court challenging president Emmerson Mnangagwa’s victory.