ATLANTA
—
The
Carter
Center
today
released
the final
report from
its
international
election
observation
mission
to
Zimbabwe’s
Aug.
23
harmonized
elections.
The
report
concluded
that
the
overall
electoral
process
did
not
meet
Zimbabwe’s
regional
and
international
commitments
or
the
democratic
aspirations
of
Zimbabweans.
It
offers
recommendations
to
the
Zimbabwean
government
to
help
bring
its
electoral
processes
closer
in
line
with
international
standards
for
democratic
elections.
The
Carter
Center
found
that
the
election
took
place
in
a
restricted
political
environment
with
an
unlevel
playing
field.
This
limited
candidates
from
competing
on
equal
terms
and
prevented
the
expression
of
the
will
of
Zimbabweans.
Election
administration
lacked
independence
and
transparency
in
key
areas,
undermining
the
credibility
of
the
process.
Critical
election
information,
including
the
final
voters’
roll
and
list
of
polling
stations,
was
not
readily
available
to
stakeholders.
Only
modest
electoral
reforms
were
enacted
before
the
election,
despite
government
steps
to
bring
the
laws
into
alignment
with
the
constitution.
Laws
restricting
freedoms
of
speech,
movement,
and
association
increased
political
tensions
and
polarization
among
the
electorate
and
intimidated
civil
society
groups
leading
up
to
election
day.
More
extensive
changes
are
needed
to
lift
restrictions
on
fundamental
freedoms
of
speech,
expression,
and
assembly
as
well
as
to
promote
women’s
representation
in
elected
offices.
Election
day
was
largely
peaceful
and
administered
well
by
polling
staff.
However,
extensive
voting
delays
caused
by
ballot
shortages
in
several
constituencies,
including
in
some
urban
wards
considered
to
be
opposition
strongholds,
likely
affected
voter
turnout.
Observers
reported
numerous
instances
of
assisted
voting
in
rural
areas,
raising
concerns
that
secrecy
of
the
vote
may
have
been
compromised.
The
postelection
period
was
characterized
by
several
cases
of
politically
motivated
violence,
surveillance,
reported
abductions
and
detentions
of
opposition
party
and
civil
society
activists,
and
other
alleged
violations
of
human
rights.
Recalls
of
opposition
members
of
parliament
and
councilors
disenfranchised
voters
in
their
respective
constituencies,
contributing
to
a
decline
of
democracy
in
Zimbabwe.
Background
On
July
29,
2023,
the
Center
deployed
an
international
election
observation mission to
observe
Zimbabwe’s
2023
harmonized
elections.
The
Center
assessed
the
compliance
of
the
electoral
process
with
regional
and
international
obligations
and
standards
for
democratic
elections,
including
principles
enshrined
in
national
law,
the
Southern
African
Development
Community
Principles
and
Guidelines
Governing
Elections,
and
the
African
Charter
on
Human
and
Peoples’
Rights,
among
others.
The
Carter
Center
conducted
its
election
observation
mission
in
accordance
with
the
2005
Declaration
of
Principles
for
International
Election
Observation.
Since
1989,
The
Carter
Center
has
observed
more
than
115
elections
in
over
40
countries,
including
the
United
States.
Post
published
in:
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