African Union Deploys Long-Term Election Observation Mission to assess Zimbabwe’s Electoral Process

The African Union Commission (AUC) has deployed a 14-member long-term election observation mission to the Republic of Zimbabwe’s presidential, legislative and local council elections scheduled for 30 July 2018. The Mission was deployed following an invitation by the Government and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

According to a release by the AUC, the team which consisted of four (4) core team analysts and ten (10) long-term observers (LTOs) arrived in Harare, Zimbabwe on 3 July and 5 July 2018, respectively and "will remain in the country until 15 August 2018 to assess post-election developments, including result tabulation and announcement as well as dispute resolution. They will meet regularly with government officials, representatives of the electoral commission, political parties,civil society organisations , citizen election observers, among others, to assess electoral preparations and pre-election environment, including election administration, campaigning, voter education and other issues. The core team will focus their analyses on the political, electoral, legal, media and gender issues related to the electoral process, while the LTOs will observe the process at regional levels in all the 10 provinces in Zimbabwe".

"The Mission’s mandate is derived from relevant African Union instruments on democracy, elections and human rights, especially the 2007 African Union Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance; the 2002 OAU/AU Declaration on Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa; the 2002 African Union Guidelines for Election Observation and Monitoring Missions; and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and will operate in accordance with these and other relevant international and regional instruments as well as the legal framework governing elections in Zimbabwe".

"The overall objective of AUEOMs is to promote democracy and build public confidence in electoral processes in AU Member States. The Missions are deployed in line with the AU’s aspirations outlined in Agenda 2063, particularly Aspiration no.3, which aims to ensure good governance, democracy, and respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law on the continent. The conduct of credible, democratic and peaceful elections in Member States is deemed critical to the realization of the AU’s aspirations and its overall goal of ensuring an integrated, peaceful and prosperous continent".