Prior to the polls on August 23, the United Kingdom, the United States, and their geopolitical rivals Russia, Belarus, and China will join the European Union (EU) as the first international observers to travel to Zimbabwe.
In advance of the elections, Jobst von Kirchmann of the EU met with Amon Murwira, the acting minister of foreign affairs and international trade for Zimbabwe, on Friday in Harare. The two signed a memorandum of understanding.
Murwira asserts that the EU and other international observers should “observe, not monitor, the election process”.
Kirchmann responded by telling the media that the EU envoy would abide by both Zimbabwean law and the EU code of conduct.
“This election observation mission will follow Zimbabwean laws as well as the EU code of conduct. They will be strictly impartial,” he said.
He added:
This is a sign of commitment for Zimbabwe to hold credible, peaceful, and inclusive elections. This resonates with us and is the reason why we are deploying an election observer mission because we would like to contribute to a more robust electoral environment.
Eleven election specialists from the EU team will arrive the next week, much like in other polls in Africa. They will be followed by 44 short-term observers who will come soon before election day and 46 long-term observers who will land at the end of July.
51 nations and 17 international civil society organisations have been invited thus far. There will also be representatives from a few southern African political groups.
On Saturday, the two leading candidates, the ruling Zanu-PF and the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), delved deeply into the countryside of the nation.
67.6% of Zimbabwe’s population, according to Trade Economics, resides in rural areas.
In the previous election, rural areas overwhelmingly supported Zanu-PF, but metropolitan areas have historically been strongholds for the opposition.
On Saturday, Zanu-PF was in Bulilima, Matabeleland South, where President Emmerson Mnangagwa charged that the West was dividing Zimbabweans.
“You in Europe, come and see how Zanu-PF is loved by our people. If you close your eyes, our noise and sound, our movement and walking, and our rhythm will wake you up,” he said.
“You wish us to be divided. We shall never be divided. You can spend your money on groups in this country to bring about confusion and division, but we the people of Zimbabwe, say no. We shall remain united.”
Nelson Chamisa of the CCC conducted his campaign in Mashonaland East’s Marondera’s rural and agricultural areas.
Already in trouble, Chamisa announced to the crowd that he would visit every region of the nation where there are two candidates and introduce those backed by the party.
CCC renegades submitted their paperwork in a number of constituencies. Such divided votes gave Zanu-PF gains in 2018.
Since political parties started their campaigns last week, there hasn’t been any political violence despite a few isolated instances of hate speech.
