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Open Letter to the Editor of The Daily Mirror
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
April 07, 2005

ZLHR has read an article appearing in your Daily Mirror publication on Thursday 7 April 2005 by an unnamed reporter entitled "Zim lawyers send poll report to Geneva".

The contents of the article by the unnamed reporter indicate that neither s/he nor you studied our full report, which numbered 78 pages and dealt comprehensively with our investigations, conclusions and positive recommendations relating to the March 31 parliamentary elections, before writing the article.

ZLHR is disappointed by your attempt to underplay legitimate concerns that were raised by various local and foreign observer missions in their preliminary statements, which the Zimbabwean people have a right to know in line with their constitutional right to freedom of information. This is not in line with your obligation to report accurately and present all the facts to the public in order to allow them to draw their own conclusions.

In its Preliminary Statement on the Zimbabwe Parliamentary Elections held on 31 March 2005 issued on 3 April 2005 the SADC Election Observer Mission specifically took issue with the following, which they indicated needed "recasting and or improvement:

• The need to simplify the procedure and to ensure that authorizations for voter education are provided easily and timeously by the relevant institutions;
• The need for wide publication of updating and verification of voters' roll;"

In addition they stated that:
"SADC Mission was concerned about the number of people who were turned away from polling stations . . . Notwithstanding [the] reasons [provided by the ZEC and the Registrar of Voters] it is the Mission's view that the voters' registration process requires improvement."

Further the Statement of the African Union Observer Team on the Zimbabwe Parliamentary Elections of 31st March 2005 released on 3 April 2005 indicated "certain concerns that require appropriate attention" and these included:

• Almost everywhere that members of our team visited, several prospective voters could not find their names on the roll and were thus turned away from the polls
• The MDC has alleged that there are serious discrepancies in the official results released by the ZEC for several constituencies. It is hoped that both the ZEC and the ESC will promptly look into the allegations with a view to assuring the Zimbabwean people of the authenticity of the results of the elections.
  In addition to the foregoing concerns, the AU Observer Team will include in its final report recommendations on technical and administrative issues that could further enhance the transparency of the Zimbabwean electoral process and the verifiability of its outcomes."

ZLHR believes that these preliminary conclusions and recommendations by the observer teams are in line with those drawn by ZLHR relating to concerns about the voter registration and inspection process, as well as the voter education programme.

ZLHR therefore stands by its claims and maintains that the unnamed reporter and you made every effort to distort our position and to mislead the public about the full contents of our report.

It is now the duty of the ZEC and the Registrar General of Voters to provide substantiated evidence to the public, especially those who were turned away from the polling stations as their names did not appear on the roll or as they were in the wrong constituency, that they fulfilled their constitutional and legislative mandates.

ZLHR is very aware of it civic duty to scrutinise such processes, especially where they have an impact on the constitutional rights and freedoms of the Zimbabwean public. ZLHR carries out its mandate in an objective manner and offers constructive criticism. It is unfortunate that certain sectors of society find this abhorrent and cannot engage positively and contribute to an open debate, free from harassment and intimidation, which will move our country forward. This will not detract ZLHR from its responsibilities.

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