SADC Yet To State Its Position On Zimbabwe's Readiness To Hold Elections
The SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC) has refuted reports by Zimbabwe State media that it said the country is ready for elections.
DRC Ambassador to Zimbabwe His Excellency Mipwele Michel and Namibia Charge D’ Affairs in Zimbabwe Zemha Gawahas were quoted as saying Zimbabwe is ready to hold elections.
SEAC is currently conducting consultations with stakeholders in Zimbabwe ahead of the general elections scheduled for later this year.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, 19 April 2023, SEAC said it is yet to make a formal announcement on the readiness or otherwise of Zimbabwe to conduct the elections. SEAC said:
It is important to note that contrary to some press reports, the SEAC has not yet made a formal announcement on the readiness or otherwise of Zimbabwe to conduct the elections.
This recommendation will be made to the Ministerial Committee of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation in the formal report to be submitted by SEAC at the conclusion of the mission. The SEAC mission will conclude on 20th April 2023.
SEAC said its mission is to assess if the political and security environments in the country are conducive for the holding of free, fair, transparent, credible and peaceful elections in conformity with the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines.
The Mission will also assess the Legal Framework governing the 2023 General Elections in Zimbabwe and also assess if the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) is prepared and ready to conduct the 2023 General Elections.
The SEAC pre-election goodwill mission is being led by Judge Ticheme Dlamini, the Chairperson of the SADC Electoral Advisory Council (SEAC) and the SEAC Member from the Kingdom of Eswatini, and by Advocate Notemba Tjipueja, the Deputy Chairperson of SEAC and the SEAC Member from the Republic of Namibia.
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