Regional body, SADC, unlikely to resolve Zimbabwe’s disputed elections —Security Institute

HARARE – The Institute for Security Studies (ISS) says it is unlikely that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) will resolve a dispute over Zimbabwe’s recent elections.

The ISS, which aims at enhancing human security on the African continent, however, said failure by the regional bloc to intervene would frustrate Zimbabwe’s debt arrears, the Newsday Zimbabwe repoted on Tuesday.

Zimbabwe held its harmonised election on August 23 and 24 and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission declared Emmerson Mnangagwa as the winner of the presidential elections.

He was inaugurated in Harare on Monday, September 4, 2023. However, the main opposition Citizens Coalition for Change has disputed the election outcome, describing it as a “gigantic fraud”.

The SADC Election Observer Mission (SEOM) indicated in its report that the elections fell short of regional and international standards.

“Not all member states will be comfortable with SEOM’s findings, which could set an unwelcome precedent that represents a departure from its previous approach,” said the institute.

ISS said that it was unlikely that the international community and the Africa Union would escalate the election issue further given the ongoing debt resolution programme.

Facilitator and former Mozambican president, Joaquim Chissano, had since endorsed Mnangagwa’s victory.

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