By JULIUS PHIRI –
THE Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has deployed a pre-election observer mission to Zambia  led by Ambassador Ashraf Rashed, a member of the COMESA Committee of Elders from Egypt, ahead of the general elections set for August, 11.
The first team of the pre-election observer delegation was deployed in mid-June to selected provinces while the remaining teams would observe in other provinces at different intervals until end of July 2016.
According to a Press release, during this time and as part of its mission, the delegation would consult electoral stakeholders including political parties, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), security wings, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the media among others, to gather information on election-related issues as well as to assess election preparedness.
The delegation would also engage the diplomatic community as well as other election observers present on the ground in the selected provinces.
The pre-election observer mission’s findings would enhance understanding on the conduct of electoral processes in Zambia and will also build on a detailed report that would be submitted to the ECZ and the Government within 90 days from the election date.
The pre-election observer team would be joined by the larger group of COMESA observers who are expected to arrive in the country in early August.
The COMESA electoral observer mission would be guided primarily by the constitution and other legal frameworks as read with relevant International and Regional instruments, including the COMESA guidelines on election observation.
The Mission welcomes this opportunity to contribute to the democratic processes in the Republic of Zambia and looks forward to the cooperation of all Zambians.