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Five steps SADC must take to ensure democratic elections in Zimbabwe
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
March 30, 2011

We, Zimbabwe civil society organizations under the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition banner, strongly urge the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to urgently intervene in the Zimbabwe crisis to pave way for democratic elections that are without violence or intimidation. We reiterate that Zimbabwe is not ready for elections in 2011 and that on her own, without direct assistance from SADC and the AU, Zimbabwe cannot deliver a credible election. We state unequivocally that the conditions obtaining in Zimbabwe such as widespread state-sponsored violence, partisan application of the law, increased deployment of soldiers across the country openly intimidating citizens and campaigning for ZANU-PF and increased arrests and harassment of rights activists and MDC leaders all confirm that state institutions remain unreformed and unrepentant.

We therefore call upon SADC to urgently take the following five critical steps to create an environment conducive to holding free and fair elections where violence and intimidation play no part:

1. Push Zimbabwe to have a new, democratic constitution which includes critical electoral reforms such as an updated and accurate voters' roll, guarantees for media freedoms, equal access by all political parties to state media and repeal of all legislation that hinders free political activity.

2. Ensure that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, charged with elections management, is fully independent, adequately resourced, professional, and has direct technical support from the SADC Electoral Commissions Forum to enable it to fully discharge its mandate.

3. In the context of its on-going mediation in the political conflict in Zimbabwe, SADC must independently examine and certify that the environment is conducive to holding free and fair elections before an election date can be set, and SADC must supervise them to ensure full compliance with SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.

4. Together with the AU and the UN, deploy peace-keeping monitors at least three months ahead of elections to prevent state-sponsored violence and intimidation and to guarantee peaceful transfer of power to the eventual winner of the elections. The peace-keeping monitors should remain on the ground a further three months after elections have been held.

5. Ensure that the elections are robustly monitored and observed by local, regional and international groups.

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