Sadc observers meet SB Moyo . . .

SADC has sent a team to observe the country’s harmonised elections set for Monday next week as part of its support to the people of Zimbabwe, an official has said.

Mr Tete Antonio, the head of the Sadc Observer Mission, who is also Angola’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, was speaking after meeting Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Dr Sibusiso Moyo yesterday.

Sadc has sent a team of 63 observers for the elections and officially launched the mission on Saturday.

“This is work in progress,” said Mr Antonio. “We have just arrived, although we have had some long-term mission. I think we are working and we are here to support the people of Zimbabwe and we are being deployed to all the provinces.”

Mr Antonio said they will release their report on August 1.

The regional body also deployed long-term observers in March to assess the pre-election environment and have expressed satisfaction with the peace prevailing in the country.

In his remarks, Minister Moyo said Sadc was an important organisation to Zimbabwe

“This is an opportunity where we have been meeting the Sadc observer team which arrived in the country a few days ago,” he said.

“We believe this is an important organisation in terms of supporting the people of Zimbabwe in their processes when they are expressing their will and where they are electing their leadership.”

Government has invited a number of observers from across the world to observe the country’s elections that have generated a lot of interest both locally and abroad.

The observers include those from the African Union, European Union and the United States, among others.

The election will see a record 55 parties and 23 presidential candidates taking part.