The Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa (IEC) has dismissed claims that Zimbabwe’s governing party has been accredited to observe South Africa’s elections.
According to media reports, Zanu-PF was invited by the governing party to campaign on its behalf and participate as an observer during the elections.
This comes after the African Transformation Movement (ATM) voiced its displeasure to Parliament over the invitation to Zanu-PF to observe the country’s upcoming national elections.
The leader of the ATM, Vuyo Zungula, said his party is opposed to Zanu-PF being part of the elections set for May 29.
Zungula stated that allowing Zanu-PF to observe South Africa’s elections will tarnish and compromise the legitimacy and credibility of the country’s electoral processes.
In a response to the ATM, the IEC confirmed that it had not accredited ZANUF-PF or any other political party to observe the country’s elections.
“The commission would like to reassure you and the ATM community that it has not accredited Zanu-PF, or any other political party, to observe the elections in South Africa. The commission strongly believes in the integrity of the elections it manages and, therefore, safeguards against measures that would compromise its processes,” IEC Chairperson Mosotho Moepya said