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Zimbabwe polls: Former Nigerian President to co-lead AU-COMESA observer mission

Zimbabwe polls

HARARE – The African Union (AU) and Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) have appointed former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan as the head of their joint observer mission for the upcoming harmonized elections in Zimbabwe on August 23.

AU Commission chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat announced in a statement that the joint observer mission will consist of 73 short-term observers and three core teams of electoral experts who will monitor the elections from 16 to 29 August 2023. He said that the joint mission will be co-led by His Excellency, the former President of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan and Rt Hon Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, former Prime Minister of Uganda.

He added that the joint mission aims to: (a) provide an accurate and impartial assessment of the quality of the August 23 harmonized elections in Zimbabwe, based on regional, continental and international standards for democratic elections; (b) offer suggestions for improvement of future elections based on the findings; and © show AU’s solidarity and support for Zimbabwe’s election and democratization process to ensure that the elections are conducted in a democratic, credible and peaceful manner that contributes to the consolidation of democratic governance, peace and stability in the country.”

The invitation for the joint observer mission follows the recent invitations by ZEC and the Government of Zimbabwe for local and international observers to witness the country’s polls.

The European Union has also sent its team to observe the country’s elections.