SADC lawyers barred from observing Zim’s elections

A REGIONAL organisation cannot travel to Zimbabwe to observe tomorrow’s elections because the authorities there ignored their request.

“The Legal Assistance Centre learned with disappointment of the failure, refusal or neglect by the Zimbabwean government to process the application of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Lawyers’ Association to observe the forthcoming elections in Zimbabwe,” Norman Tjombe, who heads the LAC and is also a member of the regional body, said yesterday. “Although the application was filed at the Embassy of Zimbabwe in Gaborone, Botswana, more than a week ago, no formal response was received by Wednesday 26 March – barely 48 hours before the voting commences.We understand that a list of observers was apparently approved by the Zimbabwean cabinet, and that the SADC Lawyers’ Association was not included in that list.It appears that only a few selected countries, organisations and institutions friendly to the Mugabe regime have been approved to observe the elections,” Tjombe said.”The SADC Lawyers’ Association has a special interest in the elections in Zimbabwe and in the region, because among its main objects is the promotion of human rights, democratic values and the rule of law in the SADC region,” Tjombe added.The association has its secretariat in Gaborone and its president is a Zimbabwean lawyer in Harare, Sternford Moyo.In a joint press statement, the LAC and the SADC LA on Thursday said that all recent Zimbabwean elections were marred by controversies and serious allegations tending to reflect negatively on the credibility, integrity and legitimacy of the electoral process and outcome had been made.Some of these allegations have led to protracted litigation in the Zimbabwean courts.”We believe that it is important that independent and impartial institutions such as the SADC Lawyers’ Association are permitted to observe the elections so as to promote fundamental democratic rights including the right to free and fair participation in all processes aimed at selecting political leaders,” the statement said.The SADC Lawyers’ Association is an independent and impartial voluntary association made up of law societies and bar associations of countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, including the Law Society of Namibia.It has been in operation since August 1999.”Although the application was filed at the Embassy of Zimbabwe in Gaborone, Botswana, more than a week ago, no formal response was received by Wednesday 26 March – barely 48 hours before the voting commences.We understand that a list of observers was apparently approved by the Zimbabwean cabinet, and that the SADC Lawyers’ Association was not included in that list.It appears that only a few selected countries, organisations and institutions friendly to the Mugabe regime have been approved to observe the elections,” Tjombe said.”The SADC Lawyers’ Association has a special interest in the elections in Zimbabwe and in the region, because among its main objects is the promotion of human rights, democratic values and the rule of law in the SADC region,” Tjombe added.The association has its secretariat in Gaborone and its president is a Zimbabwean lawyer in Harare, Sternford Moyo.In a joint press statement, the LAC and the SADC LA on Thursday said that all recent Zimbabwean elections were marred by controversies and serious allegations tending to reflect negatively on the credibility, integrity and legitimacy of the electoral process and outcome had been made.Some of these allegations have led to protracted litigation in the Zimbabwean courts.”We believe that it is important that independent and impartial institutions such as the SADC Lawyers’ Association are permitted to observe the elections so as to promote fundamental democratic rights including the right to free and fair participation in all processes aimed at selecting political leaders,” the statement said.The SADC Lawyers’ Association is an independent and impartial voluntary association made up of law societies and bar associations of countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region, including the Law Society of Namibia.It has been in operation since August 1999.