Msoni commends outcome of Zimbabwe elections against findings by international observers

All Peoples Congress (APC) president, Nasson Msoni, says the re-election of Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa is unmistakable a message to the world that the era of outside sponsored candidates is over.

The Electoral Commission said Mnangagwa had been elected to a second term with 52.6 percent of the vote.

Msoni in a statement issued in Lusaka on Sunday had congratulated Mnangagwa on the victory in the August 2023 elections.

He said the sponsoring of candidates in elections had no future in Africa especially for those who seek to plunder the mineral resources of the Continent.

“The election of the incumbent president of Zimbabwe is testament of the confidence of the people of Zimbabwe in his leadership style.

“We are greatly elated by the outcome of the elections in Zimbabwe,” Msoni said.

However, observers from the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) said the polls violated democratic ideals, hence their decision not to endorse the Zimbabwean elections.

According to ENCA of South Africa, the regional body said that among their concerns were the cancellation of opposition gatherings, reported voter intimidation, coercion and irregularities, delays in getting ballot papers to some crucial districts, particularly opposition stronghold in Harare, and the continuation of elections for an unusual second day.

France 24 had reported that SADC cited cancellation of opposition rallies, biased state media and alleged voter intimidation among some of the issues that sullied the election.

“Some aspects of the harmonized election fell short of the requirements of the constitution of Zimbabwe, the electoral act and the SADC principals and guidelines governing democratic elections,” Head of the Delegation, Nevers Mumba, said.

The observers deployed by the 16-nation SADC group, however said the period running to the election and the voting phases were “peaceful and calm”.

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