This is the report of the Electoral Commissions Forum of SADC Countries (ECF-SADC) Election Observation Mission (ECF-SADC Mission) to the 2023 Harmonized Elections of the Republic of Zimbabwe, which took place on the 23rd and 24th of August 2023. The report is on the Mission’s observations covering the pre-election phase, the polling process, and results management. Furthermore, it will feature an overarching assessment of the entire electoral process. This report will also include more detailed and specific recommendations.
The Electoral Commissions Forum of the Southern African Development Community (ECF-SADC) has received an official invitation from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), dated June 9, 2023, to partake in the observation of the 2023 harmonized elections in the Republic of Zimbabwe. In accordance with its core mission of promoting collaborative efforts among Electoral Commissions within the SADC region, the ECF-SADC has duly deployed an Observer Mission for the purpose of overseeing these elections. It is noteworthy that this practice has been a longstanding tradition within the ECF-SADC, continuing for several years, and serving as a means to nurture positive interrelations and facilitate mutual learning experiences among the member Electoral Management Bodies (EMBs).
The upcoming mission marks the fourth occasion on which the Electoral Commissions Forum of the Southern African Development Community (ECF-SADC) has been involved in election observation activities within the Republic of Zimbabwe. The most recent mission was undertaken during the Harmonized Elections in July 2018.
