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ZIMbabWE is signatory to the Instrument of Ratification of the african Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. The objectives of the charter seek to promote adherence, by each state party, to the universal values and principles of democracy and respect for human rights.
Zimbabwe’s pre- and post-election period has a history of human rights abuses in the form of violence, arrests, intimidation and election rigging which undermines democracy by substituting freedom of choice with coercion and by deterring participation.
The charter is an important instrument that seeks to promote and enhance adherence to the principle of the rule of law premised upon the respect for, and the supremacy of, the constitution and constitutional order in the political arrangements of the state parties.
It remains to be seen how the government will uphold these objectives given its track record.
The Charter further seeks to promote the holding of regular free and fair elections to institutionalise legitimate authority of representative government as well as democratic change of governments and to promote best practices in the management of elections for purposes of political stability and good governance.
This is particularly interesting, as there have been murmurs of persons with political interests seeking for elections to be postponed.
Linked to this, the charter seeks to prohibit, reject and condemn unconstitutional change of government in any member state as a serious threat to stability, peace, security and development.
as this is Zimbabwe’s first election after being signatory to the charter, it must be seen that the provisions of the charter are upheld.
by being signatory to the Charter, Zimbabwe is also expected to promote the fight against corruption in conformity with the provisions of the aU Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption adopted in Maputo, Mozambique in July 2003 as well as promote the establishment of the necessary conditions to foster citizen participation, transparency, access to information, freedom of the press and accountability in the management of public affairs.
The fight for transparency and accountability in governance processes remains at the heart of (Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development) ZIMCODD’s work.