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Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma

Tendai Mugabe and Zvamaida Murwira
THE African Union has dismissed claims of vote-rigging and malpractice being peddled by MDC-T and some sections of the private media, saying no such concerns had been brought up. AU Commission chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma told journalists in Harare yesterday, in her pre-election assessment briefing, that she met all presidential candidates and stakeholders and no such complaints were raised.
Her remarks, however, drew attacks from MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai who accused her of trying to tilt the poll in favour of Zanu-PF.

During Dr Zuma’s briefing, a journalist from the London-based Guardian newspaper asked if the mission received evidence of a Zanu-PF rigging plot, including the alleged deployment of militia across the country.

The journalist indicated that he had a document he got from his interaction with some MDC-T officials that showed how Zanu-PF intended to rig.
Said Dr Zuma: “I don’t have it. I met the Prime Minister who is the leader of the MDC-T who said nothing like that. He gave me no document, so if you have it, give it to me, otherwise I don’t work on newspaper reports or speculation.

“I work on what I have heard and seen. That is why I met leaders so that I can hear what you are saying from them.”
Dr Dlamini-Zuma said the other leaders she met and/or talked to included Zanu-PF presidential candidate, President Mugabe, Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara, Zimbabwe Development Party leader Mr Kisinot Mukwazhe and MDC leader Professor Welshman Ncube.

“None of them mentioned any document; none of them even used the word rigging.
“They tell you maybe what they think you want to hear,” Dr Zuma said, adding that all candidates assured them that they would accept the election result.

“If there is anything to be challenged, it should be done in the courts and not in the street,” she said.
Dr Zuma said they were satisfied by ZEC’s explanation on the challenges encountered during special voting where thousands of police officers and civil servants failed to cast their votes due to logistical challenges.

Presenting the AU Long-Term Observer Mission’s pre-election statement, AU Commissioner for political affairs Dr Aisha Abudullahi said the period leading to the harmonised elections was calm and hailed the high voter registration which stands at 93 percent of eligible voters.
She, however, expressed concern on people who failed to register as voters due to technical challenges.

“While acknowledging the increased number of registered voters from 5.2 million to 6.4 million, the mission noted that thousands more were unable to register due to the limited time frame to regularise their citizenship status and insufficient voter education,” said Dr Abudullahi.
The mission also noted the polarisation of the media and that some stakeholders it met had expressed reservations on some media laws.

Mr Tsvangirai criticised the AU chair at another Press conference he convened.
He said Dr Zuma was barking a Zanu-PF narrative supporting an outcome that endorsed the revolutionary party’s victory.
“I understand that she (Dr Zuma) had issued a statement to the media to the effect that all Principals are happy with what is taking place and no issue was raised with her.

“I just want to correct that. I have no intention of correcting an impression that has been created that will cause an unnecessary conflict.
“I want to say that it is unfortunate that statement was made. The truth of the matter is that I raised a number of issues with her. I met her. I did not meet her in a private room that is the two of us, so that it becomes her word against me.

“That is a Zanu-PF narrative to endorse an outcome which then supports a Zanu-PF outcome. We know her background. Who does not know her history? It is a very unfortunate position to take to accuse me of lying when I had a full meeting in which she was there . . . It puts to question her integrity as an impartial observer to this process,” said Mr Tsvangirai.

Mr Tsvangirai said he brought to the attention of the AU Commission chair issues to do with voter registration and the challenges encountered during the special voting.

Mr Tsvangirai claimed that there was no transparency around the voters’ roll.
He alleged that the ZEC had printed more than eight million ballot papers which do not tally with the 6, 2 million registered voters.
He said there was a covert operation of intimidation and violence in Mashonaland East and Central provinces.

Mr Tsvangirai also claimed ZEC was no longer in control of the voting process, alleging that a group called National Logistics Organ, was now running things.

The AU chief, however, made it clear they do not work on the basis of rumours or allegations but investigate every assertion.
She commended ZEC for a job well done. Analysts yesterday dismissed Mr Tsvangirai’s attack on the AU and his assertions as utterances of a man staring sure defeat in the face.