Election observers still not visible around the country

By Tichaona Sibanda
17 March 2008

With just twelve days to go before the crucial general elections on the 29th March, none of the observer missions in the country have left the Harare area.

Professor Elphas Mukonoweshuro, secretary for International Affairs in the Tsvangirai led MDC, said the only mission they have seen so far was the one from SADC, which was based in the capital Harare.

‘They’ve not been visible anyway else from all over the country. They seem to be concentrating on top class hotels and then making short distance forays into the country around Harare,’ Mukonoweshuro said.

The government has also only invited observers from countries that they consider to be ‘friendly’ to the ruling party. Western countries have been barred from sending observer missions.

‘We are not happy at all that the so-called observer missions have not established themselves firmly on the ground. They are not visible at all, whether this is a strategy that would benefit Mugabe remains anybody’s guess,’ he said.

Most observers in the country have so far not been critical of the electoral process, which is heavily skewed in favour of Zanu-PF. With less than two weeks to go, the Zimbabwe Election Commission has yet to make public, the newly demarcated constituency boundaries.

‘People are working on assumptions. We are only guessing as to where the boundaries are, but people still don’t know where to go and cast their votes because we haven’t been told by ZEC. These are the issues the election observers should be looking at and not confining themselves to Harare,’ Mukonoweshuro said.

He added; ‘I guess when they said they are inviting those from friendly countries this is what they meant, people who turn deaf and blind the moment they step foot into the country.’