Issued by: South African Observer Mission
15 February 2002
The leader of the South African Observer Mission (SAOM) to the Presidential Elections in Zimbabwe, Dr. Samuel Motsuenyane will tomorrow (16th February 2002) lead a delegation that will attend the Presidential election rally to be addressed by President Robert Mugabe tomorrow afternoon at Star Rally in Mashonaland West.
This will be followed with attendance of the rally to be addressed by the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Morgan Tsvangirai, due to be held on Sunday in Chitungwiza, Harare on the (17th February 2002).
The attendance of the rallies marks the beginning of the implementation of the mandate of the SAOM that the team of 50 Observers from South Africa will be involved in until the elections that are scheduled for the 9th and 10th March 2002-02-15.
"As from tomorrow, the whole contingent of thirteen observers currently in Zimbabwe will be deployed throughout the country. We will ensure that all of us conduct our work in an impartial, objective and constructive way because we want to see Zimbabwe succeed in its elections. We want to enhance the possibility of the Zimbabweans to determine their own destiny in a free and fair way. The success of Zimbabwe is the success of South Africa and indeed the entire region and continent and we will do our best to assist in that direction" said Dr. Motsuenyane.
Dr. Motsuenyane will be accompanied by the Chairperson of the South African Independent Electoral Commission; Dr. Brigalia Bam as well as the Chief Director from Department of Foreign Affairs in SA, Dr. Mathoma.
Meanwhile, the rest of the South African Observer Team (SAOM) will from Saturday 16th February be deployed in six regions viz. Gweru; Bulawayo; Harare; Kiroi; Masvingo and Mutare where they will start observing the election process.
Judges Dikgang Moseneke and S. Khampepe are expected to arrive in Harare tomorrow to join the Mission.
14 members of The SAOM have already arrived in Zimbabwe and a total of fifty Observers will be in the country by the 3rd March 2002.
Enquiries : Mbulelo Musi on 0027-83-442-9041 or 0027-83-602-5795 Fax: 092634-251-859