EU Election Observation Mission deploys 46 long-term observers

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to the Republic of Zimbabwe today deployed 46 long-term observers (LTOs) across the country.

“The observers will be working across all of Zimbabwe’s ten provinces, and will focus on rural as well as urban areas”, said the mission’s Deputy Chief Observer, Dr. Beata Martin-Rozumiłowicz.

“In the course of their duty, EU observers will meet local electoral officials, candidates, and representatives from political parties, as well as civil society and the media. They will be impartial and they will not interfere in the electoral process in the course of their work. They will only use firsthand and verified observation in their reporting”, stressed the Deputy Chief Observer. The findings of the long-term observers will be analysed by the core team in Harare.

On election day the mission will be supplemented across the country by 44 short-term observers, a delegation from the European Parliament, and a number of locally recruited short-term observers, drawn from the diplomatic community. This will bring the number of EU observers on polling day to over 150, from all 27 EU member states as well as Canada, Norway, and Switzerland.

The Chief Observer of the EU EOM, Mr. Fabio Massimo Castaldo, will present the initial findings and conclusions of the mission two days after the elections. The mission will remain in Zimbabwe to observe also the post-electoral environment and follow possible appeals and complaints. A final report, with recommendations for future elections, will be published some two months after election day.