Zimbabwe's Election Re-run In Doubt: SEOM Urges Legal Action

By Staff Reporter | Oct. 12, 2023

Zimbabwe may not be having an election re-run after the Southern African Development Community election observer mission (SEOM) urged aggrieved parties to pursue legal processes over the disputed elections.

The opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) has been demanding an election re-run supervised by Sadc and the African Union (UN).

CCC leader, Nelson Chamisa, says President Emmerson Mnangagwa rigged the elections.

The SEOM released its final report on Thursday and said the elections did not meet regional guidelines on holding credible elections , but urged parties to exhaust legal channels to register their concerns.

“The SEOM calls for all concerned parties to ensure that any grievances with respect to the election results are channelled through the appropriate legal processes to ensure exhaustation of domestic legal remedies,” the SEOM final report reads in part.

“In terms of Section 11.8.2 of the Sadc guidelines, when SEOM publishes and officially submits the election reports, member States which held the elections may consider the recommendations advanced by the SEOM for improving the conduct of elections and submit to the chair of the organ, a response to the SEOM report.”

Zanu PF had accused SEOM head, Nevers Mumba, for an adverse preliminary report that criticised the elections as not credible, free and fair..

The ruling party accused Mumba of being a CCC sympathiser.

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The Sadc observers, however , in their final report commended political parties for ensuring peace despite the disputed election.

“The SEOM noted that … some aspects of the Harmonised Elections fell short of the requirements of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Electoral Act, and the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections (2021),” reads the report.

“The SEOM commends political leaders for spreading the messages of peace and non-violence throughout the electoral cycle.”