Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN)

[email protected] [2]
Tel / Fax: 480148/9
P.O. Box BE 630, Harare, Zimbabwe

Press Statement

Post-Election Assessment

March 12, 2002

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) has been monitoring
the 2002 Presidential Elections since the general parliamentary
elections in the year 2000. The pre-election period has been marked
by the following developments:

The 'fast tracking' of legislation that impacts on the electoral
process resulting in:

* Disenfranchising voters through the voter registration process;

* Registration of voters beyond 3 March 2002;

* 'Correcting' the voters' roll;

* Control of voter education through the Electoral Supervisory
Commission;

* Drawing election supervisors and monitors from the Ministries of
Defence, Home Affairs and Education;

* Disallowing postal voting;

* Constituency-based voting;

* Simultaneous holding of municipal and Presidential elections;

* Restrictions concerning the accompanying of ballot boxes;

* Printing of extra ballot papers;

* Very restrictive and oppressive Public Order and Security Act;

In addition, several other measures have been of great concern to
us:

* Unequal access to the state controlled media, in particular the
state media, with a bias towards the ruling party;

* Restrictions concerning both local and international observers;

* Confiscation and destruction of identity cards by youths of the
ruling party;

* The establishment of illegal road blocks by youths of the ruling
party;

* Political violence, including torture and murders, largely
perpetrated by ruling party supporters against members and
supporters of the opposition;

* The selective enforcement of the law by law enforcement agents;

The conduct of the poll

The Electoral Supervisory Commission accredited, at the last
minute, only 400 observers from our network, less than one
hundredth of the names that ZESN had submitted. This severely
curtailed the ability of ZESN and its network of 38 civic
organizations from effectively observing the elections.

We are very concerned about the deliberate distribution of polling
stations countrywide. There was a phenomenal increase in the number
of polling stations in the rural areas, in particular mobile
polling stations that are difficult to monitor and observe.
Stations in the urban areas were reduced by as much as 50 percent
in some constituencies while those in the rural areas were
increased. In Harare and Chitungwiza, this was particularly
worrying in that there were tripartite and bipartite elections
being held. The result was chaotic. Tens of thousands of Harare and
Chitungwiza voters were unable to vote even after the extension of
voting by one day. It is important to note that reports from Gweru,
Masvingo, Mutare, Bulawayo and Matebeleland North indicated that
several voters were no able to vote by Sunday night and many were
under the impression that there would be an extension of voting
days countrywide. Hence, even as vote counting begins, tens of
thousands of Zimbabweans were deliberately and systematically
disenfranchised of their fundamental right to participate in the
governance of their country. Without the participation of the full
electorate there can be no democracy.

Meanwhile, we express great concern about the figures we are being
provided concerning the number of registered voters in the rural
and urban areas. It appears there has been a deliberate attempt to
significantly inflate the numbers of voters in the rural areas.

ZESN commends the Zimbabwean populace for their resilience and
determination to remain peaceful in the face of this potential
national crisis.

Conclusions

These elections violate almost all of the SADC Parliamentary Forum
Norms and Standards.

-Voter registration was discriminatory and not transparent.

- Voter education was disrupted and there was insufficient time for
the ESC to conduct voter education after the legislation was
drafted.

The fast tracking of legislation meant that there was insufficient
time for the ESC to train its 22 000 monitors all of whom were
civil servants in particular the army and police.

- It is inappropriate to include civil servants to monitor the
Registrar General's office. This task should have remained with
civil society.

- There were disturbing episodes of violence even during the
polling days - opposition polling agents and our own monitors
harassed and prevented from carrying out their work.

-There was questionable data on the rural and urban divide which
stated that there was a higher voter turnout in the rural areas
than in the urban centers.

In summary, there is no way these elections could be described as
substantially free and fair.

As a result of these issues, ZESN recommends the need for an
Independent Electoral Commission that is protected by law and well
resourced to carry out elections.

- ZESN warns that a flawed electoral process a potential cause of
conflict but calls on the people to remain calm but firm, resolute
even after the results are released.

Dr Reginald Matchaba-Hove, Chairperson