Fraser Mpofu
17 March 2008
Harare — Zimbabwe has invited Botswana to send a team to observe the March 29 elections.
Botswana, along with all the 13 SADC member countries, has been invited to observe the elections in its individual capacity although the regional grouping has also been invited to send its own observer mission as a bloc.
Zimbabwe's foreign affairs minister, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, says all the 14 SADC member states are free to send observers for the presidential, parliamentary, municipal and senatorial elections.
Mumbengegwi says a total of 47 regional and sub-regional organisations and countries from Africa, Asia, and the Americas have been invited.
Russia is the only European country that will observe the elections after all the other members of the European Union were barred because of strained diplomatic relations between Zimbabwe and the EU.
Addressing diplomats last week, Mumbengegwi said the African, Asian and other observers were picked after careful consideration of, "reciprocity, objectivity and impartiality in their relationship with Zimbabwe".
"Clearly, those who believe that the only free and fair election is where the opposition wins, have been excluded them since the ruling party, Zanu-PF, is poised to score yet another triumph," Mumbengegwi said.
Only 10 African countries - Senegal, Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana, Libya, Uganda, Ethiopia and Sudan - were asked to send representatives.
China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia and Iran as well as Brazil, Jamaica, Venezuela and Nicaragua, will also observe the elections as will the African Union, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, the Non Aligned Movement, the Economic Community of West African States, Pan African Parliament, Economic Community of Central African States and the East African Community.
Among the invited sub-regional organisations are the Africa, Caribbean and the Pacific, Association of South East Asian Nations, MAGREB Union, Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries and the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development.
Mumbengegwi said only diplomats who are accredited on a full term basis as opposed to those temporarily accredited can get accreditation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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