It’s difficult to conclude last week’s polls were free, fair – SACCORD

The Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) says it is difficult to conclude in absolute terms that the just ended elections were free and fair and met the internationally acceptable standards of free and fair elections.

In a preliminary statement on the just ended elections, SACCORD Board Chairperson Christine Munalula says this is largely on account of the political violence experienced during campaigns, the misapplication of the public order act, perceived biased media coverage, and some intimidation throughout the electoral period among others.

She says during the counting and tabulation process, some monitors and political party agents were not given the Gen 12 form and that this compounded the problem at the totaling centres.

Ms Munalula says clearly there was no transparency at some of the totaling centres in the tabulation of results that were coming from the polling stations.

She cites in instances in Chawama, Kanyama, Kabwata, Matero, Mandevu and Munali were results were delayed without a clear explanation for the delay.

Ms Munalulu adds that SACCORD visited these totaling centres but there was no evidence of results being stuck on the wall as should be the practice.

She states that results from different polling stations were held on to until the following day despite being available in the totaling centres.

She says the ECZ officials in places like Kabwata and Mandevu totaling centres were computing these totals on their own without any verification from monitors and party agents and that when queried, these officials were reluctant to provide information of what they were tallying.

Ms Munalula says SACCORD recommends that the ECZ enhances transparency in the results management especially the results intake stage at the Tabulation centre.