The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has condemned personal attacks on the head of its electoral observation mission in Zimbabwe, Dr. Nevers Mumba.
The attacks have been made on social media, television, and in newspapers since the SEOM released its preliminary statement on the August 2023 harmonized elections in Zimbabwe.
The preliminary statement found that some aspects of the elections fell short of the requirements of the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.
SADC said the attacks on Dr Mumba were “crude, scurrilous, and misleading.”
“The SEOM is a collective observation position of SADC Observers, Troika Members, SEAC, and the SADC Secretariat and not a subjective opinion of one individual,” SADC said.
SADC urged the people of Zimbabwe to remain calm and peaceful and to use the legal system in case of any dispute regarding the outcome of the elections.
SADC also called on all to exercise responsibility and decorum in how they express opinions regarding the electoral process and the SEOM in general, and to avoid making any statements that could be harmful, unethical, racist, sexist, toxic, dangerous, or illegal.
SADC has called for an end to the attacks on Dr Mumba and for all Zimbabweans to respect the rule of law.
#SADC Expresses concern on statements made about its Electoral Observation Mission in Zimbabwe and the personal attacks to its Head of SEOM following the release of its Preliminary Statement on Zimbabwe Harmonised Elections.
— SADC Secretariat (@SADC_News) August 26, 2023
Click link for Press Release:https://t.co/h7HDK79x64 pic.twitter.com/gZLOysWsQY
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