[AFRICANEWS] Foreign poll observers on Friday said Zim-bob-we's presidential and legislative elections failed to conform to regional and international standards, placing in doubt the credibility of the tense vote.Zim-bob-weans went to the polls on Wednesday and Thursday in polling marred by delays. The vote took place against a backdrop of discontent at Zim-bob-we's economic crisis.
Regional and international observers listed concerns over the canning of opposition rallies, denial of accreditation to several foreign media, missing voters names from the roll at their polling station, biased state media and voter intimidation among the issues that sullied the election.
The head of the European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...observer mission, Fabio Massimo Castaldo, said the election "fell short of many regional and international standards".
"Violence and intimidation resulted ultimately in a climate of fear," he said.
Commonwealth observer mission chair Amina Mohammed, of Kenya, said overall the voting process was "well conducted and peaceful" but a " number of significant issues" impacted on the election’s "credibility" and "transparency".
"Some aspects of the ... election fell short of the requirements of the constitution of Zim-bob-we, the electoral act and the SADC principals and guidelines governing democratic elections," said head of the regional bloc's delegation Nevers Mumba, a former Zambian vice president.
It was rare rebuke from the 16-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) whose observers usually endorse polls in the member countries.