Zimbabwe election was peaceful: SADC

WINDHOEK, 12 AUG  – The voting, counting and transmission of Zimbabwe’s presidential election results were peaceful, Southern African Development Community (SADC) Director of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, Jorge Cardoso said.

He was speaking on peace and stability in the region at a media engagement in Windhoek on Sunday, held as part of the 38th SADC Ordinary Summit which started on Thursday.
Cardoso said the actual electoral process had not yet been concluded, because of a petition lodged to the constitutional court by Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) opposition party to overturn the presidential elections results, alleging they were rigged to ensure victory for president-elect, Emmerson Mnangagwa.

The MDC has accused the ruling Zanu-PF party and the election commission of ballot fraud in the 30 July national vote, Zimbabwe’s first poll since the ousting of former President Robert Mugabe in November 2017.
Mnangagwa narrowly won the presidential race with 50,8 per cent of the vote, just enough to avoid a run-off against the MDC’s Nelson Chamisa, who secured 44,3 per cent.

“The environment in the country in terms of enabling citizens and political parties to campaign freely has been observed. The freedom of expression and freedom of association was also fully respected by everyone,” Cardoso said.
The SADC Secretariat condemned the loss of life which took place after the voting day.

“We are confident that the institutions and authorities in Zimbabwe will conduct an independent investigation to determine why there has been loss of life on 01 August,” Cardoso stated.
The official inauguration of Zimbabwe President-elect, Emmerson Mnangangwa, which was scheduled to take place in the country’s capital, Harare, on Sunday, has been postponed.
NAMPA