Josep
Borrell,
High
Representative
of
the
Union
for
Foreign
Affairs
and
Security
Policy,
has
appointed
Mr
Fabio
Castaldo,
Member
of
the
European
Parliament,
as
Chief
Observer
for
this
mission.
High
Representative
Josep
Borrell
stated:
“The
deployment
of
an
EU
Election
Observation
Mission
to
the
general
elections
in
Zimbabwe
shows
the
EU’s
commitment
to
support
democracy
and
the
rule
of
law.
Under
the
leadership
of
Chief
Observer
Castaldo,
the
EU
EOM
will
contribute
to
enhancing
citizens’
trust
in
the
process
and
to
further
strengthening
Zimbabwe’s
democratic
institutions.
The
Zimbabwean
authorities
have
expressed
their
commitment
to
credible,
transparent,
inclusive
and
peaceful
elections.
This
is
what
is
expected
and
the
Zimbabweans
deserve”
The
Chief
Observer,
Mr
Castaldo
declared:
“Democracy
requires
more
than
elections,
but
a
country
cannot
be
a
democracy
without
holding
genuine
elections.
That
is
why
I
feel
honored
to
head
an
EU
EOM
to
Zimbabwe.
Credible,
transparent
and
inclusive
elections
are
a
cornerstone
of
democracy
and
play
a
critical
role
to
promote
a
peaceful
and
democratic
path
towards
greater
stability
and
prosperity,
not
only
for
the
individual
countries,
but
also
for
the
broader
regions.
On
the
basis
of
an
impartial
and
objective
assessment
of
the
election
process,
we
hope
to
continue
working
with
the
Zimbabwean
authorities
after
the
elections
to
encourage
the
implementation
of
the
observation
mission’s
recommendations. The
EU
can
play
a
pivotal
role
in
this
process,
and
we
will
always
be
by
the
side
Zimbabwean
people.”
With
the
service
provider
of
the
EOM
arriving
in
Harare
the
first
week
of
July,
the
Core
Team
of
the
EU
EOM
will
consist
of
11
election
experts
that
will
arrive
in
Zimbabwe
shortly
after.
Towards
the
end
of
July,
46
Long-Term
Observers
will
join
the
mission
and
are
to
be
deployed
across
the
country
to
follow
the
electoral
campaign.
44
Short-Term
Observers
are
also
foreseen
to
be
deployed
closer
to
election-day.
Finally,
a
number
of
Locally-Recruited
Short-Term
Observers
from
the
EU
Member
States
accredited
in
Zimbabwe
may
integrate
the
mission
on
Election
Day.
The
EU
EOM
will
remain
in
the
country
until
the
completion
of
the
electoral
process.
Following
the
EU
election
observation
methodology,
the
mission
will
issue
a
preliminary
statement
and
hold
a
press
conference
in
Harare
after
the
elections.
The
final
report,
which
will
include
a
set
of
recommendations
for
future
electoral
processes,
will
be
presented
and
shared
with
stakeholders
after
the
finalisation
of
the
entire
electoral
process.
Post
published
in:
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