The Department of Political Affairs of the African Union Commission (AUC) has positioned a five-person independent electoral assistance mission in Zimbabwe from 15th June 2018 to 8th July 2018 to support the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). This action was taken in response to the request for technical assistance made by the ZEC during the visit to Zimbabwe by the AUC leadership led by the Chairperson, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat in in February 2018.
The technical support to ZEC is pursuant to Article 18 of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance which mandates the African Union to provide electoral assistance to EMBs upon request by the Member States.
The main objective of the mission is to assist the Election Management Body (EMB) in organising democratic, credible and peaceful elections in Zimbabwe on 30 July 2018 in line with international, continental and regional norms, standards and values.
The mission will focus on capacity building training for the EMB personnel on various aspects of electoral operations. This involves training of trainers in management of polling processes which the African Union Commission will support up to the constituency level. Tthe technical support will also include training in management of postal votes and elections of special seats for People Living with Disability and traditional leaders.
