Fact Check: Has SADC published its final Zimbabwe elections report? - ZimFact
Ngoni Mhuruyengwe
September 12, 2023
Claim: A social media post by Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) spokesperson Promise Mkwananzi alleged that Zimbabwe’s ZANU PF had been “dethroned by the SADC final report”, which he said was now available.
Is it true, SADC has published its final Zimbabwe election report?
Verdict: False
SADC has not announced its position on the results of the August 23 and 24 elections, in which President Emmerson Mnangagwa was declared the winner by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
The SADC Electoral Observation Missions (SEOM) submitted their final report to the SADC Troika, the organ tasked with promoting peace and security in the region. Currently, President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia is the Chairperson.
Despite SEOM’s preliminary report seriously questioning the conduct August 23 plebiscite for failing to meet the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, the full report has not been made public, and SADC as a bloc has not announced its position on Zimbabwe’s election outcome.
As a member of the regional bloc, Zimbabwe has signed up to following the SADC Guidelines and Principles Governing Democratic Elections, but all members are equal sovereign entities and therefore the implementation of any recommendations or programmes requires the cooperation of their governments.
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