HARARE – At least 40 election monitors were arrested when armed police stormed Zimbabwe Electoral Support Network (ZESN) offices in Harare Wednesday night and further seized computers and other related election material that was being used by the poll watchdog to follow the election.
The arrested comprised a team that was working under ZESN and the Election Resource Centre (ERC) to monitor and give updates on Wednesday’s election.
The two organisations are registered under Zimbabwean laws.
In a statement on Thursday, Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition spokesperson Obert Masaraure “strongly condemned” the police raid saying the arrested monitors “remain detained incommunicado”.
“The arrest of the ZESN and ERC officials is part of a deliberate ploy by the state to target civil society organisations and ultimately silence their voice on the 2023 elections which has apparently failed to meet the credibility test,” Crisis said.
“It is very sad that the Government of Zimbabwe through its shadowy outfit, the Forever Associates Zimbabwe (FAZ) has opted to completely ignore the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance as well as the Zimbabwean Constitution to promote and protect the civil society space.
“This mass arrest of the ZESN and ERC observers coupled with many other electoral malpractices puts a huge dent on the credibility of this election.
“The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition implores the state to respect the Constitution and allow citizens to exercise their constitutionally guaranteed rights to vote, associate and speak without any threat.
“This night-raid and detention of peaceful civil society actors makes Zimbabwe an outpost of tyranny.
“The state must desist from dictatorial tendencies and respect the pivotal role of civil society organisations in ensuring credible polls.”
The NGO accused the Zimbabwe government of arresting poll monitors to try and mask glaring disparities in the running of Wednesday’s poll.
“To organise a sham election in which ordinary Zimbabweans fail to freely express themselves directly equates to reversing the gains of the liberation struggle.
“The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition calls for the unconditional release of the ZESN and ERC officials.
“We further call upon the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to firmly move in to assist Zimbabwe to dialogue towards comprehensively dealing with these structural defects of the state which constantly produce sham elections and a frozen citizenry.
“The reform agenda of the Inclusive Government of 2009-2013 was missed, leading to the coup of 2017 and the sham elections of 2018 and 2023.
“Zimbabwe needs regional help.”
In June this year, Zanu PF accused ZESN and ERC of illegally administering a western donation of US$10 million which it said was meant to train election monitors in Zimbabwe.
