United Kingdom (Commonwealth Union)_ Scheduled for August 23, 2023, Zimbabwe is poised for a major electoral event encompassing the election of councilors, members of parliament, and a president. A notable presence in this event will be Ambassador Amina Chawahir Mohamed, the former Cabinet Secretary for Education and Foreign Affairs of Kenya, who will lead a Commonwealth election observer team to Zimbabwe, embodying the Commonwealth’s commitment to transparent and credible elections.
Initiated at the request of Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, formed a Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) to oversee the electoral proceedings. This development occurs as Zimbabwe undergoes a membership assessment process for re-entry into the Commonwealth, making this election a pivotal milestone in the nation’s democratic governance. Significantly, this marks the second successive COG engagement in Zimbabwe’s harmonized elections since its departure from the Commonwealth in December 2003.
With approximately 6.6 million registered voters, the upcoming election affords citizens the right to cast their ballots for presidential candidates, candidates for both houses of the national assembly, and local councilors. This exercise is a testament to the enduring support for democratic ideals within the nation. Speaking on the establishment of the COG, Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC emphasized the unwavering dedication of the Commonwealth to nurturing peaceful democratic governance. She noted that this involvement signifies the Commonwealth’s commitment to principles enshrined in the Commonwealth Charter, aiming to promote transparency, democracy, the rule of law, and the empowerment of the Zimbabwean populace in their democratic journey.
Acknowledging the importance of this mission, Secretary-General Scotland expressed gratitude to the COG members for their willingness to serve in this significant capacity. Comprising 15 distinguished individuals from diverse backgrounds, the COG embodies the expertise and experience present in Commonwealth member nations, including politicians, diplomats, and experts in law, human rights, gender equality, and election administration. This group of observers will be present in Zimbabwe from August 16 to August 29, 2023, assisted by a team from the Commonwealth Secretariat headed by Joshua Setipa, Senior Director of the Strategy, Portfolio, Partnerships, and Digital Division.
Noteworthy among the Commonwealth Observer Group members are Ambassador Amina Chawahir Mohamed, Chairperson and Former Cabinet Secretary for Education and Foreign Affairs of Kenya; Hon. Philip McMurdo, Barrister and Former Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland, Australia; Hon. Pelonomi Venson, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Botswana; Lomcebo Dlamini, Gender and Human Rights Expert, Eswatini; HE Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Former UN Special Representative of the SG for West Africa and the Sahel, Ghana; Prof. Prajapati Trivedi, Commonwealth Special Envoy for SDG Implementation and Professor at Management Development Institute (MDI), India; Dr Nasim Zaidi, Former Chief Election Commissioner of India; Amb. Aloun N’Dombet-Assamba, Former Jamaica High Commissioner to the UK and Former Politician, Jamaica; Wyvolyn Patterson, Journalist and Former Editor in Chief of the Gleaner, Jamaica; Dr Samuel Oe-Amseb, President of Association for Local Authorities in Namibia (ALAN) and Former Mayor of Outjo, Namibia; Nighat Dad, Founder and Executive Director of the Digital Rights Foundation, Pakistan; Amb. Julius Peter Moto, Former Uganda High Commissioner to the UK, Uganda; Baroness Denise Patricia Kingsmill, Member of the House of Lords (Labour Peer), United Kingdom; Brian Hunter Speers, Past President, Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA), United Kingdom; Kryticous Patrick Nshindano, Former Chief Elections Officer at the Electoral Commission of Zambia; and Journalist, Botswana; and other eminent individuals from various nations.
The COG’s mandate, grounded in independence and impartiality, encompasses observation of the election’s preparation, polling, counting, results process, and overall electoral environment. Their assessment aims to evaluate the process holistically, contributing recommendations for enhancing Zimbabwe’s electoral system. Before deployment, the COG will engage in briefings with electoral authorities, political parties, law enforcement agencies, the diplomatic community, the media, and civil society groups representing various sectors of the population.
Upon completing their task, the COG will compile a comprehensive report outlining their observations and recommendations to be submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary-General. This report will subsequently be disseminated publicly and shared with the Government of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, political party leadership, and Commonwealth member governments, solidifying the commitment to transparent, accountable, and inclusive electoral processes.
