| |
Back to Index
This article participates on the following special index pages:
2008 harmonised elections - Index of articles
Zimbabwe:
Local authorities and foreign observers must not fail Zimbabwean
voters again
International Bar Association (IBA)
March 29, 2008
The International
Bar Association (IBA) today called upon Zimbabwe's electoral
authorities and accredited international observers to take all steps
necessary to ensure that the will of the electorate is not thwarted.
'The catalogue of serious irregularities reported ahead of
the March 29 elections suggests that yet again Zimbabwe will not
have free and fair elections,' said Mark Ellis, Executive
Director of the International Bar Association. 'Most international
observers and media have been denied permission to observe this
process. However, the Zimbabwean government has allowed the African
Union, Southern African Development Community and other selected
entities to observe. They should not fail the Zimbabwean people
by endorsing a process that falls below acceptable standards,'
he said.
'Zimbabweans have for years shown remarkable restraint in
the face of the systematic denial of their rights and the subversion
of democratic process,' Ellis said. 'They have endured
a series of deeply flawed elections but kept their faith in democracy.
Now there are signs that voters are losing their patience with fraudulent
elections, which could lead to violence.'
He added, 'It is, therefore, imperative that the foreign observers
speak out strongly against all irregularities in this election.'
The IBA said that credible local and international organisations
have reported extensive pre-election irregularities, such as:
- gerrymandering;
- inaccurate voter
rolls;
- violence and intimidation
of opposition political parties and civil society;
- overproduction of
postal ballots for police, military, diplomats, and electoral
officials
and the absence of an independent process to count the postal
votes so as to prevent multiple voting;
- inadequate polling
stations in urban areas;
- bias against the
opposition in the state-run media;
- permission for police
to be present inside polling stations in breach of the recent
SADC-brokered agreement;
- politicized distribution
of government-controlled food, and other benefits and government
resources; and
- denial of observer
status to significant regional bodies, including the SADC Lawyers
Association.
For further information/expanded
commentary, please contact:
Romana St Matthew - Daniel
Press Office
International Bar Association
10th Floor
1 Stephen Street
London W1T 1AT
United Kingdom
Mobile: +44 (0)7940 731915
Direct Line: +44 (0)20 7691 6837
Main Office: +44 (0)20 7691 6868
Fax:+44 (0)20 7691 6544
E-mail: romana.daniel [at] int-bar.org
Website: www.ibanet.org
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
TOP
|
