The final assessment of Zimbabwe’s March 2005 parliamentary elections belongs to the citizens of Zimbabwe themselves. However, the assessment made by the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Election Observation Mission on the basis of the SADC Election Principles and Guidelines adopted at the August 2004 Mauritius Summit will probably be seen as the most important external evaluation of the elections, and will be heavily scrutinized both inside and outside Zimbabwe.
The mission is certain to be the subject of some controversy, with vigorous debate on the validity and adequacy of the SADC Principles and Guidelines, on the interpretation of the principles made by the mission and on the various political pressures which might affect the work of the mission.
The SADC mission could show how the observation and assessment of elections can become a tool of political strategy; alternatively, it could demonstrate the meaning and significance of a truly independent electoral evaluation.
Both the conduct of the mission and the outcome of the debate over Zimbabwe’s parliamentary elections will be important indicators, not merely of electoral legitimacy in Zimbabwe itself, but also of the way in which the Southern African region handles internal differences with respect to democratic standards and democracy promotion.
Read the full assessment (PDF)
See also:
Zimbabwe – facts, stats, examples to understand the upcoming elections
