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EISA not observing Zimbabwean elections
Electoral Institute of Southern Africa (EISA)
March 15, 2005

http://www.eisa.org.za/EISA/pr20050316.htm

EISA has been observing elections in the SADC Region for the past seven years and in the process has been involved in over 20 electoral processes. The organisation has amassed a wealth of knowledge and experience in the observation of elections in the SADC region and beyond. EISA observer missions gather information for the purposes of assessing and documenting key aspects of the electoral process with a view to promoting peer learning across the region. It is in this spirit that the organisation planned and hoped to observe the 2005 Zimbabwe Parliamentary Elections.

Our interest in observing the election was made known in writing to the Zimbabwean Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Following the statement of our intentions, EISA communicated with the said ministry on a regular basis hoping to receive an affirmative response. Unfortunately, an invitation to observe the elections has not been forthcoming. Prospects for such an invitation appear to be unlikely. Furthermore if such an invitation should be issued, given that the election is two weeks away, EISA will be unable to organise and deploy an observer mission which can effectively document and observe the election process in the manner envisaged in the EISA / ECF Principles for Election Management, Monitoring and Observation in the SADC Region (PEMMO).

EISA would have preferred to be involved in the 2005 Zimbabwe Elections, contributing to and gaining from the process. However given the short time to the elections, the EISA Board of Directors which met this morning has reached the decision that, should an invitation be issued at this late stage, EISA will regrettably not be able to accept it. This decision, disappointing as it is, has been made in the interest of professional and credible observation of elections.

Denis Kadima
Executive Director
For and on Behalf of the EISA Board of Directors

Enquiries Mr. Denis Kadima +27 11 482 5495

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