President Mnangagwa reverses stance on foreign observers for elections

HARARE – In a surprising turn of events, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has taken a step back from his previous threats to exclude foreign observers from monitoring the upcoming August 23 harmonized elections in Zimbabwe.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), which has typically followed Mnangagwa’s lead, has now issued a notice inviting international observers to register for the elections.

This development comes just two months after the president’s threat to bar foreign observers.

ZEC’s notice states that the deadline for submitting observer applications is August 18, four days prior to the election day.

The commission explicitly invites individuals from both foreign countries and international organizations, as well as eminent persons from Zimbabwe and local organizations, to apply for observer accreditation.

Additionally, individuals representing bodies similar to ZEC’s functions, and those invited by the minister responsible for Foreign Affairs or Justice and Legal Affairs, are also eligible to apply.

President Mnangagwa had previously hinted at barring observers from “hostile countries” from monitoring the electoral process.

However, in a recent column in a State-controlled newspaper, he emphasized that Zimbabwe would only consider countries that had invited Zimbabwe to observe their own elections.

Mnangagwa expressed his desire to uphold the principle of reciprocity in international election observation, asserting Zimbabwe’s pride as an African and sovereign nation.

The president’s threats to restrict foreign observers stand in contrast to his previous actions in 2018, when he welcomed several observers from Western nations that were previously banned by his predecessor, the late Robert Mugabe.

Reaction to Mnangagwa’s latest stance

This change in stance has raised eyebrows among political analysts and experts.

Rejoice Ngwenya, an analyst, commented on the situation, saying, “ZEC is very genuine. ED is sabre-rattling. He needs international observation to legitimize his crooked electoral practices.”

Ngwenya’s statement highlights the scepticism surrounding Mnangagwa’s motivations behind his threats and subsequent reversal.

Despite ZEC’s invitation, some observers remain skeptical about the efficacy of foreign observers in ensuring a fair election process.

The Electoral Act empowers ZEC to accredit or deny observer status to applicants.

This has led to concerns that foreign observers could still be denied accreditation, as the commission is mandated to make such decisions in accordance with the law.

ZEC’s notice also outlines the accreditation fees for various categories of observers.

Local observers will be required to pay US$10, while observers from within Africa will pay US$100.

Foreign embassies’ observers in Zimbabwe will pay US$300, and those from countries outside Africa will pay US$400.

Media practitioners working for foreign media houses will pay a fee of US$100, while their counterparts from the continent and local journalists will pay US$100 and US$10, respectively.

With the issuance of this notice and the possibility of foreign observers being present, the Zimbabwean public and the international community will closely watch the developments surrounding the electoral process.

The hope is that these elections will be conducted in a transparent and fair manner, thereby promoting democracy in Zimbabwe.