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Peter Matambanadzo Senior Reporter
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa observer mission yesterday urged political parties contesting in the July 31 harmonised elections to accept the outcome and seek legal recourse in the event of any grievances. The leader of Comesa observer mission Ambassador Betheul Kiplagat said this in his welcome remarks at the launch of the regional bloc’s election observer mission at a Harare hotel.
“We have urged the country as a whole, the parties, that when results are announced accept the results and if you have any grievances and if there is anything that you are unhappy about go to arbitration,” Ambassador Kiplagat said.

“This could be a court or a special court, let us not put matters into our own hands. Let us put the grievances to the courts to resolve the problems.”

Ambassador Kiplagat noted that the 27-member mission, which arrived in the country on Tuesday would not use standards set by outsiders to observe elections in Zimbabwe.

“Lastly to ensure ourselves that we are not observing or measuring the success of these elections by a standard set, by somebody outside, but by our own standard. That is the constitution of this land and the laws that are there and it is the standard we are using and it is clear and that is what we are using,” Ambassador Kiplagat said.

“So Zimbabweans, we are saying how are we measuring ourselves with the Constitution with the laws we enacted ourselves that is the measurement. We are not outsiders we have a criteria we are only using what is in the laws of this land and fundamental laws are universal. Let us go and enjoy this period. It’s going to be exciting.”

He urged the electorate and all political parties to uphold peace during and after the election.
“Let us make sure these elections are peaceful and stakeholders are committed that they will be peaceful. So we are committed to observation because as part of the African Union there is a commitment. Africa is committed to development of democratic institutions and elections are a very important component in that process,” he said.

In a statement, Comesa secretary general Mr Sindiso Ngwenya said the observers had completed a comprehensive training and were exposed to the political environment in Zimbabwe before being deployed.

“They have also had an opportunity to interact with important stakeholders, including the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, the security sector, civil society organisations and representatives of political parties,” he said.

“To complement this, our mission leader has taken time to hold discussions with other observer teams especially the AU and Sadc and we hope to continue to compare notes continuously throughout the process in order to further enrich our mission.”

He said Comesa’s main objective was to attain regional economic integration for sustainable growth and development.
Comesa, he said, had observed more than 50 elections and referendums in the region.

“In addition we have also deployed our Committee of Elders to the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2011, Egypt in 2011 and in Kenya in 2013 ahead of their respective elections,” he said.

“We have continued to professionalise our elections observation missions. To that end we have recently developed comprehensive guidelines for the observation of elections. This will further add credence to our observer mission.”

The observer team would be in the country until August 2.