The Southern African Youth Solidarity Network (SAYSN) has rejected Zimbabwe’s recent election results, stating that the polls did not meet regional and international credibility standards.
According to Southern African Development Community (SADC) poll observers, certain aspects of Zimbabwe’s presidential and legislative elections failed to adhere to democratic principles.
SAYSN urged the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and its stakeholders to convene an Extraordinary SADC Organ on Politics, Defense, and Security Troika meeting.
“SAYSN, therefore, rejects the recently ended Zimbabwe National elections as neither democratic, free, fair, nor credible.
“SAYSN urges SADC to convene an Extraordinary SADC Organ on Politics, Defense and Security Troika meeting to deliberate on the SADC EOM report and take appropriate action to allow Zimbabwe to have democratic, free, fair, and credible elections,” reads the statement.
SAYSN highlighted transparency, independence, fairness, and credibility issues throughout the electoral process, as cited by SADC and other international electoral observation missions.
“SADC and other international electoral observation missions cited problems with transparency, independence, fairness, and credibility at all stages of the electoral process.
SAYSN supported a national inclusive dialogue process for Zimbabwe, backed by both the region and the international community.
They said the sustainable development can only be achieved through dialogue based on a shared vision defined by all of Zimbabwe.
“Only dialogue anchored on a shared vision, defined by all of Zimbabwe, can be the foundation of sustainable, inclusive, and progressive development,” reads the statement.
The second post-Mugabe election in Zimbabwe took place on August 23-24.
Mnangagwa was declared the winner with 52.6% of the votes, while Chamisa received 44%, according to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) results.
