Jonathan departs Abuja for Harare on Saturday before the Zimbabwean election

International and local observers were recently invited to Zimbabwe to watch the elections by the government and Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

Goodluck Jonathan, the former president of Zimbabwe, is traveling from Abuja to Harare on Saturday to see the country’s upcoming elections, which are set for August 23.

Jonathan was to head a combined Africa Union (AU) and Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) observer mission for the states.

This is stated in a statement released on Friday in Abuja by Mr. Moussa Mahamat, the chairperson of the AU Commission, and provided to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Mahamat stated that the joint AU-COMESA mission consists of three core teams of electoral specialists and seventy-three short-term observers who would participate in the election observation operations in Zimbabwe from August 16 to August 29.

The aim of the AU and COMESA election observation mission, according to him, was to deliver factual and unbiased reporting or an evaluation of the calibre of the harmonized polls.

Mahamat states that part of this is keeping an eye on how closely the elections’ behavior adheres to local, national, and international norms for democratic elections.

After heading the AU’s missions to Tanzania, Mozambique, and Zambia in 2016, Jonathan will be heading an election observation mission for the fourth time.

It went on to say, “Based on the findings, the observer team is intended to provide recommendations for improving future elections;

“To ensure that the conduct of democratic, credible, and peaceful elections contributes to the consolidation of democratic governance, peace, and stability in the country, demonstrate the African Union’s solidarity and support towards Zimbabwe’s election and democratization process,” he said.

The AU chairwoman added that the combined AU-COMESA EOM would interact with various parties and monitor the last-minute arrangements and voting procedure.

Mahamat further stated that following the election date, the observer team would release its initial statement.

He stated that the goal of the mission is to promote good governance and other democratic principles, and that it will be directed by the AU and COMESA rules governing election holding.

The primary source of inspiration for the combined AU-COMESA EOM’s mandate is the African Union Guidelines for Election Observation and Monitoring Missions (2002), among other AU and COMESA instruments.

“African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (1981); OAU/AU Declaration on Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa (2002).

“Among other things, the COMESA Elections Observation Guidelines and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections, and Governance (2007),” he stated.

Aspiration Number 3 of the AU Agenda 2063, which strives to guarantee good governance, democracy, and respect for human rights, justice, and the rule of law, is also in accordance with this, according to Mahamat.

International and local observers were recently invited to Zimbabwe to watch the elections by the government and Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

Teams from the Carter Center and the European Union are among the other foreign missions that have already sent observers to watch the nation’s elections.