International rights body, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said that Zimbabwe’s July 30 harmonised elections are unlikely to be free, fair and credible because President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government has failed to implement electoral reforms. In a recently released report, Human Rights Watch says,
The Zimbabwe government’s failure to carry out legal and electoral reforms threatens the credibility of national elections scheduled for July 30, 2018. Despite President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s repeated promises that elections will be free and fair, the ability of voters to freely choose their leaders is in serious doubt.
Human Rights Watch research in May, including interviews across the country, found that security force involvement in the electoral process, abusive laws that remain in effect, and violence and intimidation by the ruling party all contribute to an environment that is not conducive to free and fair elections.
Dewa Mavhinga, Southern Africa director at Human Rights Watch added,
As Zimbabwe’s elections draw close, the government needs to ensure that conditions are right for people to vote for candidates of their choice in an environment that is free of intimidation, fear, and violence. President Mnangagwa should act to ensure credible, free, and fair elections.
More: Human Rights Watch