EU amazed by claims of interference
EU amazed by claims of interference
Grace Moyo
Chief Observer of the EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM), Fabio Massimo Castaldo has dismissed a Herald story to the effect that his mission was “interfering” with Zimbabwe electoral processes in an attempt to discredit Wednesday’s election.
The state newspaper alleged that the observer mission was involved in improper conduct such as bribing journalists to ensure negative reports about the election.
Nick Mangwana, the permanent secretary of Information, had expressed the government’s displeasure at the meddling of a certain observer mission which he did not name.
However, Castaldo strongly refuted the allegations.
“The EU Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) is astounded by the defamatory and malicious accusations made in an article, published in local Zimbabwean media yesterday. These allegations are based on unsubstantiated rumours and entirely fabricated,” he said.
He added: “The EU EOM and its observers do not engage in inappropriate activities, nor does the EU EOM interfere in the process. The EU EOM adheres to a strict code of conduct.”
“The EU EOM has taken note of previous unacceptable attempts to discredit the mission. The EU EOM sees these articles as blatant disinformation of the Zimbabwean public. They reflect a continued effort to undermine the EU EOM and credible election observation.”
Rodrick Sibanda, a political science student said the government is trying to pre-empt foreign observers by accusing them in advance.
“The end game is to disarm foreign observer missions by accusing them ahead of time so as to take the sting off their final verdicts. When these missions finally issue their report, the ruling party will simply refer to these allegations in its defense.
Secondly, they are trying to intimidate the observers. Government has gone out of its way warning observers to stick to their mandate but I do not think the foreign observer missions particularly the EU would be intimidated by such threats. The government is trying to export its intimidation tactics that have worked locally to foreigners,” he said.
The EU EOM’s was invited by the Zimbabwean government to observe the 23 August elections. EU observer missions have in the past denounced Zimbabwean elections.
