Interim Statement by the SA Observer Mission on the Zimbabwean
Presidential Elections of 9 and 10 March 2002

March 13, 2002

1. Pursuant to the invitation by the President of Zimbabwe, Robert
Mugabe, the South African President, Thabo Mbeki, assigned a
50-person observer mission led by Dr Sam Motsuenyane, to observe
the Zimbabwean Presidential elections of 9 and 10 March 2002;

2. The South African Observer Mission (SAOM) arrived in Zimbabwe in
three phases from the 13th of February 2002, to ensure that in its
mission it observes the pre-election, polling days and the
post-elections periods;

3. Based on its mandate and its method of work which included
mediation and conflict management, the SAOM recognised the
sovereignty of the Zimbabwean state and observed the elections
within the Zimbabwean legislative framework in an independent and
non-partisan manner;

4. The members of the SAOM were deployed in all the electoral
provinces of Zimbabwe to ensure not only geographic
representativity, but also to cover the country-side and what were
perceived to be high risk areas;

5. The SAOM was also cognisant of the international and regional
significance of the Zimbabwean elections;

6. Overall, the 2002 Zimbabwean Presidential elections were a
challenging exercise, and the authorities charged with conducting
the elections discharged their work satisfactorily, except for the
decision to reduce the number of polling stations in some urban
areas - a decision which resulted in certain instances in
excessively long queues and the extension of polling hours in most
stations and days in Harare and Chitungwiza;

7. Based on its method of work and the deployment of its members,
the SAOM hereby makes its interim observations as follows:

7.1 The regulatory environment

The promulgation of laws, right up to and during the elections,
that were aimed specifically to cover the administration,
regulation and management of the said elections; the reversal of
some of these by the courts; the gazetting of regulations to
override the courts - all created an environment that not only
caused legislative uncertainty but also threatened the integrity of
the electoral process.

7.2 The electoral process

7.2.1. Pre-election assessment

Campaigning was characterised by polarisation, tension and
incidents of violence and intimidation. The intention seems to
have been to intimidate members of other parties. The role of the
SAOM and other international observers as well as the co-operation
of the Zimbabwean authorities, ensured that these tensions and
conflicts remained at a minimal level, thus polling days did not
suffer from the same.

7.2.2 Media

The Constitution of Zimbabwe provides for a free press. The media
in the country is characterised by a high level of political
polarisation. The so-called independent media was biased towards
the opposition MDC whilst the state-owned media gave limited
access to the opposition, favouring instead the ruling ZANU-PF
party. As for the international media, its role during these
elections tended to be overwhelmingly in support of the
opposition.

7.2.3 Polling days assessment

Conduct of the electorates, security forces, party agents as well
as the closely followed rules of voting, counting and transparency
procedures, all contributed to the relative peacefulness of the
voting days. It is unfortunate that some registered voters were
turned away because of administrative oversight. Voter turnout
was, however, among the most important in Zimbabwe's 22 years of
electoral history.

7.3. Post-election assessment

The end of elections should provide the people of Zimbabwe with the
opportunity to address what we believe are the country's key
challenges: reconciliation and economic revival.

8. The SAOM is heartened by the fact that the opposition,
notwithstanding the comments expressed above, actively
participated in the campaign and the elections themselves, thus
legitimising the outcome of the said elections;

9. Similarly, the Zimbabwean people, in going out to vote in droves
on the polling days, not to mention their perseverance in the long
queues and slow voting processes, demonstrated their commitment to
expressing their will in determining who should be their President;

10. Based on our observations, it is the view of the SAOM that the
outcome of the 2002 Zimbabwe Presidential elections should be
considered legitimate;

11. The SAOM wishes to thank the Government and People of Zimbabwe,
including all political parties, for having received it and made
it possible for us to contribute to their democratic process;

12. We are hopeful that now that the people of Zimbabwe have
spoken, the world will respect their verdict.

Signed

Dr. Sam Motsuenyane
Leader: The South African Observer Mission

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