160 observer missions approved for elections but ZANU-PF not accredited, says IEC
Picture: Eyewitness News
JOHANNESBURG - The Electoral Commission (IEC) has approved 160 observer missions that will monitor the upcoming general elections.
The IEC said that 15 of these would be international organisations like the African Union (AU) and the Carter Center Democracy Program.
The commission held a media briefing on Tuesday at their Centurion heaquarters over its state of readiness, 14 days before the seventh democratic elections.
As part of international good practice, the IEC said it always welcomes observer missions to monitor the country’s elections.
The commission has once again emphasised that Zimbabwe's governing party, ZANU-PF, was not of part of the accredited missions.
This comes after the African National Congress (ANC) said it would be inviting officials from the party to oversee the elections.
Chief electoral officer, Sy Mamabolo: "We have nothing to do really with their presence in the country. ZANU-PF is not an accredited observer mission, the commission has not accredited them."
The IEC said it was expecting 5,000 observers domestically and abroad.