Former President of Tanzania Dr. Jakaya Kikwete, will lead a group of eminent persons from across the Commonwealth to observe Zambia’s general elections scheduled for 12 August.
The 14-member team of observers was constituted by Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland at the invitation of the Government of the Republic of Zambia.
An advance group of observers was deployed to Zambia on 25 July while the rest of the team is expected to arrive in Lusaka from 2 August.
Secretary-General Scotland said: “Conducting these electoral processes – despite the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic – in an inclusive, peaceful and credible manner would be a demonstration of Zambia’s enduring commitment as a Commonwealth member to our shared values of democracy, transparency, mutual respect and inclusiveness.”
“In solidarity with the people of Zambia, the Commonwealth will be present to observe these polls and will continue to work with relevant Zambian institutions towards further strengthening the country’s democracy.”
“As I indicated in my keynote address during the launch of the Coalition for Peaceful Elections in Zambia on 1 July, elections should be an opportunity to engage in political debate over issues and perspectives and not a platform for trading insults and blows. And for democracy to flourish, it is imperative that political parties and institutions embrace transparency, accountability, and respect for the rule of law.”
The Commonwealth Observer Group will consider the pre-election environment and election preparations.
On election day, the team will observe the voting, vote-counting and results processes with reference to national legislation and international democratic standards to which Zambia has committed itself.
As with all Commonwealth observer missions, the group will function impartially and independently and conduct itself according to the standards expressed in the International Declaration of Principles for Election Observation.
The group is supported by a staff team from the Commonwealth Secretariat headed by Prof Luis Franceschi, Senior Director of the Governance and Peace Directorate.
Dr Kikwete also led the Commonwealth Observer Mission to Zambia for the 2016 elections.
These observer missions have absolutely no impact, how can observer missions stop this issue of others campaigning in markets and stopping others, and Police saying ignorantly we don’t regulate a President, who is not even a God and can not be but is just a candidate like all the 15 others, there is completely nothing special with a President, Zero
Observers serve no purpose because they don’t go to tallying centres where votes are individually counted. It’s a nice holiday if u can find a sucker to pay for u to go and observe general elections in another country. It’s a pity really that even media attention is drawn to observers.
We welcome you sir. It was pleasure to do business with you few years back
Wow, there’s nothing here to go and observe, both of these political party disqualify on the international standardized.
Zambia is ready for interim president.
I think it’s too late for Jakaya, the playing field is not level. Others are on the ground in markets campaigning, opposition are being stopped, when they are all candidates with equal rights, somebody must help stop this superiority complex by PF
Hate the game not the player.The other group knows they can’t make it.so option is cry foul even before ballots were printed.Dont participate in a contest if you can’t stomach defeat
We don’t need observers.who observes them when they vote?
Kikwete must tell ECL to stop blocking HH from reaching his electorate with 10 days remaining b4 the Elections on August 12. ECL has refused to have a level playing field for the 2021 Elections. The problem is that ECL and PF have lost support and know that he cannot win a free,fair and credible Elections. He has to use Violence to rig this Election. Since Voter protection is a Priority to the Opposition this Election the PF Election is likely to meet resistance at Polling Stations. If ECL insist on rigging this Election then Polling Stations are going to be turned into battle Zones. The Majority of Zambians are suffering and crying for Change and will vote for change. The writing is on the wall.
All elections are observed bwana. It is a standard establish in all the groupings (UN, ACP, Commonwealth, EU, SADC, ECA, ECOWAS etc). No country is an island. Besides it is at their own cost but democracy benefits. Remember it is to OBESRVE and NOT to SUPERVISE elections. And we must accept and work with observers in the spirit of one Zambia one Nation One people!
Zambia ready for An overhaul. Interim president is the only solution.
PF or UPND, I fail to see the light at the end of a tunnel.
I don’t think even if PF were put in class and told what democracy is, they may not understand anything
@ number 8, you are right. However, observers, for whatever reason, fail to say the truth when an election is biased or conducted in an even environment.
Election observers cleared the Kenyan election which was subsequently ruled as unfair by the courts, similar situation to Malawi.
The only time when an independent observer raised questions about an election was when the Catholic church refused to acknowledge the results of the DRC elections.
Election observers are only a rubber stump of a rigged election.
Jakaya Kiketwe is an influential former President of Tanzania. He might offer some useful advice to the panicky stricken ECL. The fear of losing elections is contagious. Kikwete should tell ECL to stop blocking HH his Rival from Campaigning. Its in the interest of Zmbia and its Citizens to have these Elections declared Credible. With the Zambian Economy in the doldrums we don’t need International Sanctions to be imposed on Zambia for violent,rigged and disputed Elections.
These are just shameless chaps earning an allowance …they have already typed out a report of free and fair elections
THIS WILL JUST BE AN ACADEMIC EXERCISE AS THESE OBSERVES WILL ONLY BE CONFINED TO LUSAKA AND A FEW SELECTED TOWNS LIKE LIVINGSTONE, NDOLA , KITW, LUSAKA. ITS ALREADY HAPPENING THE POLICE ARE HINDERING THE MAIN OPPOSITION LEADER FROM REACHING OUT TO VOTERS TO SELL HIS HIMSELF AND HIS UPND ALLIANCE ASPIRANTS AT VARIOUS LEVELS AND HAS NOT HEARD ANYTHING COMMENTS FROM THE OBSERVERS WHO CAME AT INVITATION OF THE PF GOVT. IN AFRICA YOU DON’T EXPECT AN INVITATED PERSON TO TAKE THE SHOW FROM THE HOST. ANY THESE OBSERVES THYE SHOULD ENJOY THEIR STAY IN 5 STAR HOTELS IN ZAMBIA AND EXPERIENCE OUR HOSPITALITY.