Zimbabwe: EISA not invited to Zim elections
"The Electoral Institute of Southern Africa (EISA) has been observing elections in the SADC Region for the past seven years and in the process has been involved in over 20 electoral processes. The organisation has amassed a wealth of knowledge and experience in the observation of elections in the SADC region and beyond. EISA observer missions gather information for the purposes of assessing and documenting key aspects of the electoral process with a view to promoting peer learning across the region. It is in this spirit that the organisation planned and hoped to observe the 2005 Zimbabwe Parliamentary Elections.
Our interest in observing the election was made known in writing to the Zimbabwean Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Following the statement of our intentions, EISA communicated with the said ministry on a regular basis hoping to receive an affirmative response. Unfortunately, an invitation to observe the elections has not been forthcoming."
PRESS STATEMENT: 15 March 2005
http://www.eisa.org.za/EISA/pr20050316.htm
For immediate release
EISA has been observing elections in the SADC Region for the past
seven years and in the process has been involved in over 20 electoral
processes. The organisation has amassed a wealth of knowledge and
experience in the observation of elections in the SADC region and
beyond. EISA observer missions gather information for the purposes of
assessing and documenting key aspects of the electoral process with a
view to promoting peer learning across the region. It is in this
spirit that the organisation planned and hoped to observe the 2005
Zimbabwe Parliamentary Elections.
Our interest in observing the election was made known in writing to
the Zimbabwean Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Following the statement of
our intentions, EISA communicated with the said ministry on a regular
basis hoping to receive an affirmative response. Unfortunately, an
invitation to observe the elections has not been forthcoming.
Prospects for such an invitation appear to be unlikely. Furthermore if
such an invitation should be issued, given that the election is two
weeks away, EISA will be unable to organise and deploy an observer
mission which can effectively document and observe the election
process in the manner envisaged in the EISA / ECF Principles for
Election Management, Monitoring and Observation in the SADC Region
(PEMMO).
EISA would have preferred to be involved in the 2005 Zimbabwe
Elections, contributing to and gaining from the process. However
given the short time to the elections, the EISA Board of Directors
which met this morning has reached the decision that, should an
invitation be issued at this late stage, EISA will regrettably not be
able to accept it. This decision, disappointing as it is, has been
made in the interest of professional and credible observation of
elections.
Denis Kadima
Executive Director
For and on Behalf of the EISA Board of Directors
Enquiries:
Mr. Denis Kadima
Email [email protected]
Tel +27 11 482 5495