Published: 03 September 2013

Sadc yesterday issued its final and comprehensive report on the harmonised elections, describing them as having been free, peaceful, and generally credible and a reflection of the will of the people of Zimbabwe.

Head of the Sadc Election Observer Mission to Zimbabwe Bernard Membe, who is also Tanzanian Foreign Affairs minister congratulated ZEC and the people of Zimbabwe "for holding a free, peaceful and generally credible harmonised elections of July 2013 in which the will of the people was expressed."

He dismissed claims that the failure to provide the electronic voters' roll marred the elections, saying the world over and even in Tanzania; the electronic voters' roll was not an issue, which is why it was not a requirement under the Sadc rules and guidelines governing democratic elections.

Membe said the challenge that the Sadc Troika and Summit would be seized with was to engage the European Union and the US to remove the illegal sanctions they imposed on Zimbabwe; and the MDC formations need to participate if they entertain hopes of winning the support of the people.
- herald

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