Jonathan departs Abuja Saturday to lead AU, COMESA election mission to Zimbabwe

It will be the fourth time Mr Jonathan will lead an AU election observation mission since 2016.

News Agency of Nigeria • August 19, 2023

Former Nigerian President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan leaves Abuja for Harare on Saturday to observe Zimbabwe’s general elections, scheduled for August 23.

Mr Jonathan would lead a joint observer mission of the Africa Union (AU) and Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) for the states.

This is contained in a statement by the AU Commission chairperson, Moussa Mahamat, on Friday in Abuja.

The joint AU-COMESA team, according to Mr Mahamat, is composed of 73 short-term observers and three core teams of electoral experts, who would be involved in the election observation activities from August 16 to August 29 in Zimbabwe.

He said the AU and COMESA election observer mission aimed to provide accurate and impartial reporting or assessment of the quality of the harmonised elections.

According to Mr Mahamat, this includes observing the degree to which the conduct of the elections meets regional, continental and international standards for democratic elections.

It will be the fourth time Mr Jonathan will lead an AU election observation mission since 2016, having led the continental body’s missions to Tanzania, Mozambique and Zambia.

“The observer team is expected to offer recommendations for improvement of future elections based on the findings; demonstrate AU’s solidarity and support towards Zimbabwe’s election and democratisation process to ensure that the conduct of democratic, credible and peaceful elections contributes to the consolidation of democratic governance, peace and stability in the country,” he said.

The AU chairperson also said the joint AU-COMESA EOM would engage with several stakeholders and observe the final preparations and polling process.

Mr Mahamat added that the observer mission would issue its preliminary statement after the election date.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the government recently invited local and international observers to the country’s polls.

International observer missions, including the European Union and the Carter Center, have already deployed their teams to observe the country’s elections.

(NAN)

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