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Dr Tomaz Salamao

Farirai Machivenyika and Farai Kuvirimirwa
SADC executive secretary Dr Tomaz Salamao and head of the AU Observer Mission to the harmonised elections and former Nigerian president General Olusegun Obasanjo have lauded Zimbabweans for voting in a peaceful, free and fair manner. Mr Salamao — who is part of the regional bloc’s team observing the elections — said after visiting several areas in and outside Harare, he was impressed with the way the polling process had been conducted.

“We went to Marondera, Seke and Chitungwiza and what we saw and which was very good was that people were in the queues early in the morning. Everything has gone on well so far,” he told ZBC News.

Addressing journalists at Town House in Harare yesterday at the close of the polling station, Gen Obasanjo said all the areas his team observed went on well.

“From what I saw and what has been reported so far from our observers who went out to the field, I feel the conduct of the election everywhere they went has been peaceful, orderly, free and fair.

“My hope is that this should be what the report would be from all polling stations throughout the country. Now we will see what goes on after the closing of voting.”

Gen Obasanjo said the observer mission had also received explanations from ZEC officials on why some people were being turned away.
“We got a report and they were turned away for three reasons, firstly because they were in a location which is wrong.

“There were those who were turned away because they either did not have an ID card or the certificate which they were given when they registered.

“There are those who had the certificate or the ID card, they were referred to the headquarters or branches where they will verify their situation in the soft copy and the headquarters gave authority to allow such people to vote,” Gen Obasanjo said.

The former Nigerian president said some were also sent away because they had registered after the cut-off date of July 10.
He said the numbers of people turned away was unlikely to affect the legitimacy of the election.

“I would not pronounce judgment or no legitimacy in such because what I was made to understand is that when you are registered within a ward, you can vote in a polling station within that ward, provided your name is on the voters’ roll in that ward.

“If for one reason or the other your name is not registered and not on the voters’ roll in that ward, they would refer you to the headquarters and I saw a number of cases where the response came back from the headquarters to allow such people to vote,” he said.

Speaking earlier yesterday just after the start of voting in Harare Gen Obasanjo said he was satisfied with the conduct of the harmonised elections.
Gen Obasanjo was speaking after touring a polling station in Warren Park, Harare, where he spoke to polling officers and voters.

“Well, for now I do not see anything serious enough to doubt the credibility if it continues like this,” he said.
“Nothing so far to worry about. We have received reports from our observers in the field.

“There may be minor incidents, but not to worry about. Of course one does not expect any humane organisation like this to be perfect. Provided the imperfection will not alter the will of the people, I think that is what matters. So far so good.”

Gen Obasanjo said he had been briefed about the voters roll by the Registrar General of Voters and there was nothing to suggest it was improper.
“Unless there is something contrary to the details he has given me, I believe that they can go by what they have now.

“Unless, of course, there is something happening to the contrary in the field.”
Gen Obasanjo said the AU observer mission would produce a comprehensive report on the election after compiling reports from its observers.

He met President Mugabe on Tuesday where he expressed satisfaction with preparations for the elections.
Speaking after meeting President Mugabe on Tuesday, Head of the Sadc Observer Mission, Tanzanian foreign minister Mr Bernard Membe also said the environment in the country was conducive for the elections.

Meanwhile, the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace has also commended ZEC for the peaceful conduct of the elections.
The commission’s chairman, Bishop Alexio Muchabaiwa, made the remarks while addressing journalists in Harare.

“The CCJP noted that most polling stations opened on time and that ZEC officials conducted themselves in an impartial manner,” he said.