THE country’s politicians and political parties can draw
lessons from their counterparts in South Africa who adhere to their Electoral
Code of Conduct and tolerate one another even during the election season, an
official has said.
In an interview following a recent visit by the Zimbabwe
Electoral Commission (Zec) and political parties represented in Parliament to
South Africa’s Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), Zec acting chief
elections officer Mr Utoile Silaigwana said the visit was an eye opener for
political parties and the electoral commission.
This visit came as South Africa will be holding its
national polls next month on May 8. Mr Silaigwana who was part of the team that
visited IEC said they observed that South Africa’s politics is more mature and
tolerant unlike what happens locally during the election season.
“We also looked at their Code of Conduct and what we learnt
is that political parties in South Africa do respect and adhere to their Code
of Conduct. They respect the electoral rules. There is a level of tolerance
depicted by the political parties. Their Code of Conduct provides for sanctions
if a political party violates it, the IEC has power to effect sanctions,” said
Mr Silaigwana.
“For example it can
ban a political party from campaigning or deduct votes depending on the type of
violations. It is a very strong Code of Conduct. I will also give an example
how a bit mature the political parties are in dealing with electoral conflicts.
“They had a situation where a member of one party pulled
down posters of another political party. The leadership of the party which had its
member pulling down posters of other political party had to go public
condemning their own member.”
He said political parties also give room to the IEC to
execute its duties without interference.
Last year, following the country’s harmonised elections
some members of the MDC Alliance started demanding that Zec should announce
results yet the electoral body had not exceeded the timeline to do so.
“In South Africa
they have seven days to announce the election results but because they have
high technology they announce much earlier. But before the results are
announced no one complains or no one announces their own results but everyone
waits until the process is completed,” he said.
MDC Alliance Harare East MP Mr Tendai Biti was earlier this
year fined for announcing fake election results.
Mr Silaigwana said the visit to IEC could help the country
resolve conflicts.
“The visit to IEC was really to learn about electoral
management systems focusing on the multi-party liaison system and other
conflict resolution mechanisms. It was an initiative taken by Zec in response
to domestic, regional and international observer reports,” said Mr Silaigwana.
Chronicle
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