By STEVEN ZANDE –
THE European Union (EU) Election Observer Mission (EOM) has deployed 24 long-term observers across the country to study Zambia’s electoral process ahead of the August 11 general elections.
EU EOM deputy chief observer Thomas Boserup said the mission would observe all aspects of the electoral process in line with acceptable international best practices.
The EU EOM comprised a seven-member analyst core team and 24 long-term observers who had yesterday travelled to all the provinces across the country, and would be reporting their observations and assessments to the core team in Lusaka.
Mr Boserup said the team would work independently to give an impartial, balanced and informed analysis of the entire process with a view to helping Zambia enhance its democracy.
He said this at a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday.
“Our mandate is to observe every aspect of the electoral process and to assess the extent to which the elections comply with the Zambian laws as well as regional and international election standards,” Mr Boserup said.
He said the observers would not issue any statement until the conclusive election results had been announced.
Mr Boserup urged the observers to exhibit impartiality in their observations to ensure the final assessment report reflected the actual developments in the various provinces.
He said the observers would stay in the country in the event that the elections required the holding of a re-run.
Mr Boserup commended Zambia for sustaining its democracy which was an example to other countries on the continent.
He said the EU had confidence in Zambia’s ability to hold a successful election.
The EOM would release initial findings after the elections in a preliminary report while the final document containg recommendations for future polls would be published two months later.