Tonchi led an 11-country observer mission to Zimbabwe and said the mission was encouraged by the "peaceful environment" in which the election took place.

"The mission hereby records its satisfaction with the high level of compliance with regulations and election rules which was displayed by the electoral staff at all stations visited," said Tonchi, who is also Chairman of the Electoral Commission of Namibia.

Tonchi's teams observed the opening procedures and voting and counting at 65 polling stations in 28 constituencies.

He described the media as a "critical component" of the electoral process and, in this respect, said there was a need in Zimbabwe for equitable coverage of all political contestants, particularly in the state media.

They said the state media had been biased in favour of the ruling Zanu-PF.

"We have visited all provinces as a team and we liaised with various organisations including political parties.

Although the mission noted positive developments in the legal environment which allowed improved access to the media in the run-up to the elections, there is need for further improvement towards equitable coverage of all political party contestants, especially in the public media," he said.

Tonchi's preliminary report is in sharp contrast to the views of the opposition parties, which complained of fraud and rigging even before the elections.

Countries such as the United States, Canada and Britain also had differing opinions.

He said there was a need for better voters' education about the significance of registering and inspecting the voters' roll.

"There is also a need to rationalise the functions of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the Electoral Supervisory Commission to further streamline election administration in the country," said Tonchi.

Tonchi, who travelled to Zimbabwe fresh from controversy over Namibia's parliamentary elections, was accompanied by Namibia's Director of Elections, Phillemon Kanime, and ECN spokesman Theo Mujoro.

Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa and Tanzania were represented in the SADC observer mission.

Local News Headlines Of The Last 48 Hours

•  Residents sick of rotten, smoking dump
•  LLD dismisses striking workers
•  Namibia tightens controls on diet pills
•  Air Namibia may revive 737 link between Walvis Bay and SA
•  Windhoek stops payment 'bonus'
•  Democratic party complains to UN
•  No graft, here, says Oshana Governor
•  Keetmans crime stats
•  Shihepo in hospital
•  Taxi fares to go UP!
•  Pressure mounts on NBC
•  Another cold front on the way
•  Ministry of Mines 'allowed cribbing'
•  First heart surgery patients doing well
•  Shebeen shooting rampage case sent to High Court
•  HIV campaign exceeds expectations
•  SADC countries to toughen up on fighting illegal fishing
•  Gambling house fight ends in death
•  PM preaches Zim harmony
•  EU promises more aid to Zimbabwe after Robert Mugabe
•  Sacu concludes trade deal with Mercosur
•  Nepotism alleged at Karibib
•  New party launched in South
•  Spotlight to fall on people and park management
•  Mbeki meets Mugabe - again
•  Witnesses in Namugongo trial want money back
•  Body parts murder case referred to PG
•  Petrol pain pumped up 75 notches