Palestinian Observer Mission to the Zimbabwe 2023 Harmonized Elections
By Donald Chakamanga
The Palestinian elections observation team has expressed warm admiration to the peaceful manner in which the Zimbabwean polls were conducted on 23 August 2023.
Speaking to journalists in Harare, the Chief Electoral Officer of the Central Elections Commission of Palestine (CEC) Mr Hisham Kuhail said the team focused on looking at the procedural aspects of the electoral process, the readiness of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), the competence of the polling staff, and the general voting environment on election day.
“In all centres visited, long queues, peaceful environment, order, and presence of local observers were evident,” he said.
Mr Kuhail and his team comprising of the Chief Electoral Officer of the Central Elections Commission of Palestine (CEC), Mr. Jameel Alkhaldi, the Director of the regional office of CEC in Gaza, Ms. Tamara Tibi, legal researcher at the Ministry of Women Affairs, Mr. Safwan Halabi, the Director General of Elections at the Ministry of Local Governance, and Mr. Iyad Mohammad, the Director of East and Central Africa and African Union at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs are in the country on the invitation extended by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Zimbabwe.
“On 23 August 2023, the team covered six voting centres namely; Avondale Primary School, Strat Haven Tents, Belvedere Teachers College, Chisipite Girls School, and Nenyere Tents in Mbare. During the day, the team attended the opening of the polling centre of Avondale Primary School, as well as the closing at the teacher’s college,” said Mr Kuhail.
According to the team, at Avondale Primary School they noted that voters demonstrated their keen interest to exercise their rights to choose their representatives.
Furthermore, Gender presence was evident, as well as voters of different age groups.
They also noted ease of access to and within the Polling Centre. However, he said voting did not take place due to the delay in the delivery of the Local Authorities ballot papers.
“Despite the delay, opening procedures were transparent and were carried out according to international standards,” he said.
His Excellency Dr Tamer Almassri, the Palestinian Ambassador to Zimbabwe also showered accolades to the Gorvenment for upholding the Supreme law and respecting the will of the people
