Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has convened a SADC Extraordinary Organ Troika Summit summit to discuss, among other things, last month’s elections in Zimbabwe.
In a notice shared by Zambia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade on X, Hichilema chaired the virtual meeting as the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation. The Summit took place on 27 September 2023 in the afternoon:
“The Summit will be attended by Her Excellency Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania and Incoming Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation; His Excellency Dr Hage Gottfried Geingob, President of the Republic of Namibia and Outgoing Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation; and His Excellency Félix Antoine Tshisekedi, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo.”
Focus On Zimbabwe Elections
The Zambian Government announced that Zimbabwe was on the SADC summit agenda:
“The SADC Electoral Observer Mission (SEOM) report on the harmonised elections in the Republic of Zimbabwe as well as other impending elections in the SADC region will also be discussed at the Summit.”
The SADC meeting also deliberated on the security situation in eastern DRC and the SADC mission in the country.
Read More: Chamisa Calls For Fresh Elections
Critical SADC Report On The Elections In Zimbabwe
After the contentions 23 August elections in Zimbabwe, SEOM released a piercing preliminary report which was critical of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). The report said the elections fell short of “the requirement of the constitution of Zimbabwe” and regional democratic principles guiding elections.
Read More: UN Secretary-General Expresses Concern Over Zimbabwe’s Election Developments
The mission, headed by former Zambian Vice President Dr Nevers Mumba pointed number of issues, including voter intimidation by shadowy group FAZ, the banning of opposition rallies, denying the opposition access to the voters roll, biased state media coverage and arrest of election observers from the civil society.
ZANU PF reacted with fury to the report, launching personal attacks on Dr Nevers Mumba.
FF / September 29, 2023
What came out of this meeting concerning election habitual thieves who have been stealing elections for the last 23 years with SADC watching and doing nothing. There was a couple six years ago and again SADC in the tresses watching and cheering.
This time the value of SADC is going to diminish if they do nothing.
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