Issued by: Department Foreign Affairs
4 March 2002
The South African Observer Mission (SAOM) today deployed throughout the country 23 members who arrived in Harare yesterday to ten different parts of the region in preparation for the coming Presidential Elections scheduled for the 9th and 10th of March 2002.
"All the embers were accredited today and immediately deployed to ten various parts of the country. We want them to acquaint themselves quickly with their areas so that they can do their work effectively during the elections." Said Ambassador Samuel Motsuenyane.
Their immediate focus areas of work will be to interact with all various stakeholders and the electoral authorities in order to assess the electoral readiness such as the electoral boundaries; voter's rolls, polling stations, counting stations and the rules of procedure pertaining to the electoral process.
Areas that they have been deployed to are Gweru, Luphane, Mashonaland East, West and Central, Karoi, Masvingo, Mutare, Bulawayo and Harare.
"Our work is going on very well and we are satisfied that we will make a meaningful contribution to the process of creating the necessary climate for credible elections to take place that will express the will of the majority of the people of Zimbabwe." Further said Ambassador Motsuenyane.