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This article participates on the following special index pages:
2008 harmonised elections - Index of articles
AC
concerned about Zim electoral impasse
African
Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
April 15, 2008
Banjul, The
Gambia: The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
(the African Commission) has been following with deep concern the
electoral impasse that has gripped the Republic of Zimbabwe, following
the March 29, 2008 Presidential, Senatorial and National Assembly
Elections. The Commission notes that while the results of the Senatorial
and National Assembly elections have been released, the results
of the Presidential Elections are still pending more than two weeks
after the voting.
The African Commission
notes that while the voting process took place in a peaceful and
generally satisfactory manner, the tabulation/counting of the votes
has encountered some difficulties, resulting in an unusual delay
in the publication of the results.
The Commission wishes
to state that this unusual and prolonged delay flies in the face
of the SADC Principles on Elections and may constitute a violation
of the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights, in particular,
Article 13, which provides for the right to vote and participate
in government. The African Commission is of the view that the right
to vote and participate in government is not limited to the casting
of a ballot paper but invariably includes the individual right to
know, and in a timely manner, the outcome of the voting exercise.
The African Commission
is concerned that the delay in the publication of the results has
the potential of undermining human rights and the rule of law and
may compromise an already volatile and tense situation.
The African Commission
calls therefore on the government of the Republic of Zimbabwe in
particular, to provide the Zimbabwe Elections Commission (ZEC),
in an open and transparent manner and in accordance with the law,
with all the necessary assistance it may require to enable it release
the elections results immediately.
Where it becomes necessary
for there to be a recount of the results, the African Commission
wishes to call on all parties to work together and agree on an open
and transparent formula for recount, which shall be done in accordance
with the law, and in the presence of all the parties and election
observers.
Finally, the African
Commission avails its good offices to all the parties of the conflict,
to work with the Zimbabwean people to find a lasting solution to
this impasse.
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