African Union to Monitor Zimbabwe Election

The African Union (AU) Commission will observe the 27 June presidential run-off in Zimbabwe. Accordingly a team of AU observer mission was dispatched over the weekend to Zimbabwe to monitor the election. Zimbabwe officially invited the AU to monitor its 27 June 2008 presidential election.

The AU did not monitor the first round of the presidential election, which resulted in violence in Zimbabwe, which is affected by a world record inflation.

According to the AU, the observer’s team will be lead by H.E. Dr. Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, former President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

“As stressed by the Chairperson of the Commission during the visits he undertook in May 2008, it is important that the second round of the presidential election be held in a peaceful, free, transparent and fair manner,” AU said.

The Commission also calls on all concerned to ensure that the best possible conditions are created for the holding of the second round of the presidential election.

“On its part, the Commission, working with the Zimbabwean leaders and stakeholders, as well as with SADC and its Mediator, will spare no effort to ensure that the ongoing process is successfully completed,” AU added.

There are reports of arrest of members of opposition parties just a few days ahead of the election.

Source African Press Agency

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