By Staff Writer
THE Zanu-pf party has criticised the recently published preliminary reports by Election Observer Missions’ (EOM) accusing them of working in cahoots with the opposition and Western powers to advance a post-colonial agenda.
Over the years the country’s liberation party has blamed interference by foreign nations whom it accuses of fighting back the nation over its pursuit of the land reform.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union this week embarked in a major climb down of consistently endorsing flawed elections by openly condemning the substandard processes.
Their observations were in sync with the European Union Election Observer Mission (EUEOM) and Commonwealth released preliminary reports that denounced Wednesday’s polls.
The ruling party through outgoing Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi teared into SADC accusing the mission of working in cahoots with the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC).
He said preliminarily observer reports were mixed with some being balanced and objective while some carry deep inaccuracies which ought to be responded to.
“It is very disappointing that some of the reports that have been issued so far read like a script from one of the election contenders as there appears to be a wholesome adoption of their position as an established fact.
“It is my grave concern that the EU has heavily relied on what appears to be the position of CCC in attacking our democracy, our laws and our sovereignty,” said Ziyambi.
In the reports released by the observer missions the August 23 to 24 elections were mired in irregularities which witnessed some polling stations receiving ballot papers late and in extreme running out of the materials.
The opposition has labeled the elections as far from free and fair as a result of the conduct by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
In the aftermath of the damning preliminary report Nevers Mumba – head of SADC mission- has become a target of attack by Zanu PF and the government who have cast aspersions on his integrity.
“It is important to note that when observers come into a country holding elections. Their mandate is limited to fact finding related to the specific poll and not to a collection of grievances as witnessed in the report by our dear brother from Zambia and EU reports.
“Infact I do not know where he was getting his report from. The brother from Zambia I do not believe is a true reflection of the entire team that he was working with or the thinking of SADC.
“I think he simply decided to use his prerogative as the head of the mission to issue a statement that is more or less similar to the grievances we already knew some of the contenders were saying,” said Ziyambi.
