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The United States Embassy in Zimbabwe has called on the government to put in place measures to ensure that credible and fair elections are held in the country.
In a statement,the US Embassy said that the government should give all political parties access to state media coverage to ensure that all the players would have the same advantage going in the general elections next.
“ZIDERA requires Zimbabwe to hold an election widely accepted as free and fair by independent international monitors,” and to sufficiently improve the pre-election environment to be consistent with international standards
To achieve this… Zimbabwe’s government must commit to a level playing field, apply laws to all candidates and parties, and guarantee public media gives nationwide, equal, non-partisan airtime for all candidates during the election period,”the US Embassy said.
The elections in Zimbabwe have been mired in controversy with allegations of rigging,voter intimidation and and political violence often characterizing the period and the US embassy said that the government should see to it that all measures are put in place to level the playing field.
In the rural areas,the ruling ZANU PF has often come under fire for the partisan manner in which food aid is distributed,a situation that has forced many people to vote for the party out of fear of being sidelined,thereby influencing the vote in favor of ZANU PF.
Zimbabwe recently held by-elections in March and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission was heavily criticized for the handling of the elections which saw some people being turned away as their names could not be found on the voter’s roll and the government has been called upon to endure that the voter’s role is released to the public on time to ensure credibility.
“We urge ZEC to publicly release an auditable electronic voters’ roll far in advance of 2023 elections so citizens can help to strengthen the credibility of the voters’ roll and reduce the numbers of potential voters turned away from polling stations,”the US Embassy added.
Zinbabwe is scheduled to hold critical general elections next year and the opposition .Citizens Coalition For Change called for reforms to be implemented way before the polls to ensure that free and fair elections are held next year.
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