In order to oversee a joint observer mission of the Africa Union (AU) and Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA), former president Goodluck Jonathan is planned to fly out to Harare on Saturday. The mission’s goal is to monitor Zimbabwe’s general elections, which are set for August 23.
The combined AU-COMESA team, which will participate in the election observation operations from August 16 to August 29 in Zimbabwe, is said to be made up of 73 short-term observers and three core teams of electoral experts, according to a statement by the chairperson of the AU Commission, Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat.
He clarified that the goal of the AU and COMESA election observer mission is to provide accurate and impartial reporting or assessment of the quality of the harmonised elections, which includes noting the extent to which the election’s conduct complies with local, continental, and international standards for democratic elections.
Dr. Jonathan has led AU election observation trips to Tanzania, Mozambique, and Zambia since 2016. This will be his fourth such mission since that year.
In accordance with the statement from the AU Chairperson, “the joint mission will be led by His Excellency, the former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, in collaboration with Rt Hon Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, the former Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda.”
The following was added to the statement: “The observer team is expected to offer recommendations for improving future elections based on the findings; and demonstrate AU’s solidarity and support towards Zimbabwe’s election and democratization process to ensure that the holding of democratic, credible, and peaceful elections contributes to the consolidation of democratic governance, peace, and stability in the country.”
The AU chairperson added that the joint AU-COMESA EOM would interact with a number of stakeholders and watch the final polls and preparations, and that it would then release its initial report.
According to Mr. Mahamat, the mission would be directed by AU and COMESA election statutes, which among other things seek to advance good governance.
The African Union Guidelines for Elections Observation and Monitoring Missions (2002), the OAU/AU Declaration on Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa (2002), the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (1981), the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance (2007), and the COMESA Elections Observation Guidelines, among others, are the primary sources from which the joint AU-COMESA EOM draws its mandate, according to the official.
The third aspiration of the AU Agenda 2063, which strives to achieve good governance, democracy, and respect for human rights, justice, and the rule of law, is likewise in accord with this.
The Zimbabwean government and electoral commission have invited local and foreign observers to monitor the elections in the nation. The European Union and the Carter Center have already sent a team to monitor the nation’s elections, among other international observer missions.
Share your thoughts