HARARE – Southern African Development Community (SADC) Troika chairperson Hakainde Hichilema has implored Zimbabwe to be guided by SADC election benchmarks it is party to in order to deliver a flawless poll this Wednesday.

In a statement Tuesday, Zambia’s incumbent president urged Zimbabwean authorities to uphold SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.

“It is my honour and privilege to address fellow citizens of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) as the Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation,” Hichilema said.

“A fundamental tenet of our community is the consolidation of democracy, which is defined by regular, credible, free, fair, and transparent electoral processes.

“In 2004, the SADC Summit of Heads of State and government adopted the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections.

“The ideals behind these principles are aimed at giving the citizens of the SADC region a peer-to-peer mechanism through which we can achieve an orderly political and economic transition.”

Hichilema wished Zimbabwe an orderly electoral process.

“Central to this is the need to provide all our citizens a say in how we govern our communities,” he said.

“ln pursuit of this ideal, SADC regularly deploys its Electoral Observation Mission to its member states, who will conduct national elections.

“In this regard, the citizens of the Republic of Zimbabwe are participating in a general election to choose their political leadership on 23 August 2023.

“In the spirit of our communal values as SADC, we wish the people of Zimbabwe a peaceful and orderly electoral process.”

The Zambian leader also urged citizens to desist from violence as they await election results announcement.

“On behalf of the SADC family, I call upon all citizens of Zimbabwe to exercise their constitutional rights and participate in this crucial phase in their system of governance and to enhance our common goal for regional economic, political and social development,” he said.

“I encourage everyone to stay calm before the announcement of the election outcome. l wish the Zimbabwean people peaceful elections.”

In 2018, soldiers shot at unarmed civilians who were protesting against the delay by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to announce presidential election results.

The main opposition party CCC has accused the ruling party Zanu PF of capturing the country’s judiciary systems and the uniformed forces to work in their favour.