HARARE — The Carter Centre’s election observers have reinforced their earlier position Zimbabwe’s August 2023 election was bungled and held under conditions restrictive to fair contest by opponents of the ruling party.
In a final report on the country’s harmonised elections released on 12 February, the pro-democracy group concluded that the “overall electoral process did not meet Zimbabwe’s regional and international commitments or the democratic aspirations of Zimbabweans”.
“The Carter Centre found that the election took place in a restricted political environment with an unlevel playing field,” said the organisation in a statement on Monday.
“This limited candidates from competing on equal terms and prevented the expression of the will of Zimbabweans.”
Carter Centre said poll administration under the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission “lacked independence and transparency in key areas, undermining the credibility of the process”.
Added the democracy based group, “Critical election information, including the final voters’ roll and list of polling stations, was not readily available to stakeholders.
“Only modest electoral reforms were enacted before the election, despite government steps to bring the laws into alignment with the constitution.
“Laws restricting freedoms of speech, movement, and association increased political tensions and polarization among the electorate and intimidated civil society groups leading up to Election Day.”
Carter Centre said “more extensive changes are needed to lift restrictions on fundamental freedoms of speech, expression, and assembly as well as to promote women’s representation in elected offices”.
The group further cited, on voting day, “extensive voting delays caused by ballot shortages in several constituencies, including in some urban wards considered to be opposition strongholds, likely affected voter turnout”.
“Observers reported numerous instances of assisted voting in rural areas, raising concerns that secrecy of the vote may have been compromised.
“The post-election period was characterised by several cases of politically motivated violence, surveillance, reported abductions and detentions of opposition party and civil society activists, and other alleged violations of human rights.
“Recalls of opposition members of parliament and councillors disenfranchised voters in their respective constituencies, contributing to a decline of democracy in Zimbabwe.”
Zimbabwe however denies its poll was a fraud and has labelled observers making the damning claims as fronts for the hostile West.
