Announcement of Parliamentary and Senatorial Seats Out of Step

1 April 2008
PRESS STATEMENT



DELAYING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULT
IS AN ATTEMPT TO SUBVERT ELECTORAL PROCESSES
AND THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) deplores the ongoing charade currently being undertaken by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) whereby they have been releasing purported results of the elections for members of the House of Assembly in dribs and drabs over the course of the past two days.

By law, in terms of the Electoral Act as amended, winning candidates for the House of Assembly and the Senate are collated and declared at the House of Assembly collation centers (constituency centers) and the Senatorial collation centers respectively. These must subsequently be published but do not, by law, have to be publicly announced as is currently being done by ZEC.

The only results which are verified and collated at the National Collation Centre are those for the presidential election. These are then announced by the Chief Elections Officer.

ZLHR’s accredited observers witnessed counting processes at polling stations throughout the country. Reports were provided that results were being posted outside polling stations as early as 11:00hrs on Saturday 29 March 2008, where after they were transferred to the constituency centers and senatorial centers.

ZEC publicly advised the nation before Election Day that it was in full control of the administration of the harmonized elections, had provided for all eventualities and was fully resourced and prepared to undertake the elections at all its polling stations throughout Zimbabwe. It therefore beggars belief that 3 days later the presidential results have not been transferred or are not known and have not been made public.

This leads to a legitimate fear that attempts are being made to tamper with the results and subvert the will of the people. ZEC’s conduct – that of engaging in the unnecessary process of announcing winning candidates for the House of Assembly and the Senate and dragging the process on – implies complicity in such attempts.

Failing to provide clear and acceptable information to the public about the reason for the inordinate delay in declaring the winning presidential candidate has caused much anxiety and anguish in the population. ZEC must be prepared to take responsibility should their conduct result or contribute to predictable polarization and public stress that provides a basis for potential widespread violations for human rights.


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