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This article participates on the following special index pages:
2008 harmonised elections - Index of articles
Deep
concern over inordinate delays in releasing results of presidential
election
Catholic Commission
for Justice and Peace in Zimbabwe (CCJP)
April 07, 2008
It is now more
than a full week since the historic harmonized elections took place
on 29 March 2008 but there has been near deafening silence about
the outcome of the flagship election, the presidential contest.
The results
of the House of Assembly and Senate elections were also released
at a painfully slow pace. This has understandably generated a hive
of rumors, speculation, fears and nervousness among the stakeholders,
and in the nation and international community. At the centre of
the mystery is the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), a constitutional
body mandated to conduct elections and referendums "efficiently,
freely, fairly, transparently and in accordance with the law."
It is the CCJP's understanding that this mandate includes
but is not restricted to ensuring that the results of the elections
are made public to the contesting parties and to the nation as a
whole as expeditiously as possible, that is, within reasonable time.
The rumours
and nervous speculation swirling around the presidential election
results and the mystery surrounding ZEC's reluctance to speedily
release those results has the effect of producing unnecessary suspicions
that ZEC is being manipulated to produce results at variance with
the verdict of the people. This is unfortunate if only because there
does not appear to be any compelling reason for the inordinate delay
in releasing the results. This delay is stretching the patience
of the people to the limit to the point where ZEC appears to be
abusing the legendary patience of the Zimbabwe people.
We have previously
noted with considerable satisfaction that ZEC managed to conduct
what to many objective observers has been one of the most free and
fair elections since independence though there were still many flaws
and lapses. The integrity of the election body is now seriously
under threat because of its disinclination to quickly make the results
public and allay the fears and suspicions of the nation. If ZEC
has the public interest and is not driven by partisan interests,
then it surely should release the results without any further equivocation.
The inordinate delay is a recipe for distrust, political tension
and even instability. ZEC must not only act impartially and honestly,
it must be seen to be respecting these cardinal values. So far,
and with respect to the snail's pace at which the results
were announced and the apparent reluctance to release the presidential
election results, ZEC is failing the test. The autonomy and professionalism
of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission have been seriously eroded
and deeply compromised, reinforcing accusations of embedded partisanship
and bias. In the event of a re-run of the presidential election,
Zimbabweans and the international community now have grave doubts
about the fairness and impartiality of ZEC to conduct the poll.
The CCJP joins
the domestic and international community in urging ZEC, in the interest
of peace and the search for justice, to urgently release and publicize
the results of the presidential election held on March 29, 2008.
Many Zimbabweans are anxiously waiting for these results; and they
deserve and have a right to know. CCJPZ will continue to observe
the post election period countrywide and produce reports.
Visit the CCJPZ fact
sheet
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