HARARE: Zimbabwe received praise from the African Union (AU) and other regional organizations on Friday for successfully conducting a peaceful election in the country.
In initial separate statements issued after this week’s general elections, observer teams from the AU, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) lauded the peaceful atmosphere that characterized the run-up to the elections and the voting day itself.
Zimbabwe Election Extends to Second Day
Zimbabweans on Wednesday voted to elect a new president, parliamentary members, and representatives for local governments. In certain areas, including Harare and Bulawayo, voting was extended to Thursday due to logistical challenges.
The AU-COMESA EOM noted that the 2023 harmonized elections were conducted in a generally peaceful and transparent manner, including the counting process, despite some logistical difficulties in the availability and distribution of local authority ballot papers in certain regions.
The AU-COMESA EOM commends the people of Zimbabwe for their patience, determination, and dedication to expressing their choices at the polls.”
