Former Kenyan Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed has been appointed to lead a team of Commonwealth election observers during upcoming elections in Zimbabwe.
In a statement, the Commonwealth said it appointed Ambassador Mohamed to chair the Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) team that will oversee the polls set for August 23.
Furthermore, the COG will be overseeing the election for the second time after Zimbabwe left Commonwealth in the year 2003.
Zimbabwe is currently undergoing a membership assessment process to rejoin the Commonwealth.
The election will mark a significant step in Zimbabwe’s democratic governance as Zimbabweans will vote to elect councillors, members of parliament, and the head of state that will comprise the government for the next five years.
Moreover, the election will see approximately 6.6 million registered voters cast their ballot to elect new leaders.
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While addressing the establishment of COG, the Commonwealth Secretary General, retired Hon Patricia Scotland said that the commonwealth involvement in Zimbabwe election is a sign of its dedication to fair elections.
“The Commonwealth’s commitment to fostering peaceful democratic governance is unwavering. Our engagement in Zimbabwe’s electoral process signifies our dedication to transparent, inclusive, and credible elections.
By adhering to the principles of the Commonwealth Charter, we aim to promote transparency, reinforce democracy and the rule of law, and safeguard the right of the Zimbabwean people to participate in their nation’s democratic journey,” the Secretary General said.
Consequently, the Secretary-General Scotland acknowledged the commitment of the COG members to this important mission and extended gratitude to each observer for their willingness to serve the Commonwealth in this capacity.
The Commonwealth Observer Group Members
The COG consists of 15 eminent individuals from various backgrounds, including politicians, diplomats and experts in law, human rights, gender equality and election administration.
Additionally, the observers are expected to be in Zimbabwe from 16th – 29th August 2023 and will be supported by a staff team from the Commonwealth Secretariat led by Joshua Setipa, Senior Director of the Strategy, Portfolio, Partnerships and Digital Division.
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The Mandate of the COG
The COG that is independent and impartial, is mandated to observe the preparations for the election, the polling, counting and the results process, and the overall electoral environment.
Furthermore, the observers will assess the conduct of the process as a whole and, where appropriate, make recommendations for the strengthening of the electoral system in Zimbabwe.
Prior to deployment across Zimbabwe, the Group will have briefings with the electoral authorities, political parties, law enforcement agencies, the diplomatic community, media, and civil society groups representing women, youth, and people with disabilities.
Lastly, upon fulfilling their mandate, the COG will submit a comprehensive report containing their observations and recommendations to the Commonwealth Secretary-General.
This report will subsequently be made public and shared with the Government of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, political party leadership, and Commonwealth member governments.
Ambassador Amina Mohamed served in various ministerial positions, including Sports, Education and Foreign Affairs during former President Uhuru’s Kenyatta’s reign.
