Foreign observers say Zimbabwe’s vote is well short of free-and-fair standards

Election observer missions deployed to Zimbabwe have unanimously reported issues which cast serious doubts about the free-and-fair nature of the poll, which they say fell well below expected standards.

With results trickling in, both the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) and ruling Zanu-PF have claimed to be ahead in the count, and a dispute about the outcome seems inevitable.

The leader of SADC Electoral Observation Mission the former vice president of Zambia, Nevers Mumba, raised Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s (ZEC) failure to distribute ballots on time, resulting in delayed polls in some parts of the country.