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This article participates on the following special index pages:
2008 harmonised elections - Index of articles
Post-election violence 2008 - Index of articles & images
Support
for national & international election observation in Zimbabwe
Electoral
Institute of Southern Africa (EISA)
May 23, 2008
http://www.eisa.org.za/EISA/pr20080523.htm
The government of Zimbabwe
has a democratic commitment to ensure the freedom of movement and
association of domestic and international election observers during
the upcoming second round of the country's presidential election.
It is also obligated to ensure the overall transparency and integrity
of the entire electoral process through commitments outlined in
the Southern Africa Development Community Principles and Guidelines
Governing Democratic Elections (2004) and the African Union Declaration
on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa (2002).
Yet, since the
first round of the presidential election in Zimbabwe on March 29,
police have harassed the legitimate, peaceful activities of staff
and observers of the Zimbabwe
Election Support Network (ZESN), a legally established and widely
respected citizen rights group that conducted observation in compliance
with the country's electoral laws, code of conduct, and international
principles for election observation. ZESN members have been arbitrarily
detained and interrogated by police and their offices have been
searched. These actions are a violation of civil and political rights
and run counter to the government's responsibility to ensure the
freedom of movement and association of election observers throughout
the country.
The Declaration of Principles
for International Election Observation, endorsed by our organizations
at the United Nations in 2005, recognizes the right of citizens
to monitor their elections through nonpartisan organizations like
ZESN. The declaration underlines that international election observation
organizations should advocate for the right of citizens to conduct
nonpartisan election observation without undue interference or restrictions.
As it prepares for the
next round in these crucially important presidential elections,
the world looks to Zimbabwe to fulfill its commitment to the universal
values and principles of democracy and respect for human rights.
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