LUSAKA - The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) in Zambia has deployed short-term observers across the country ahead of the August 13 General Election, strengthening its monitoring team ahead of polling day.
The short-term observers will join 32 long-term observers who have been monitoring the electoral process across all ten provinces, as well as an 11-member Core Team of election experts based in Lusaka.
On Election Day, the EU Election Observation Mission is expected to comprise approximately 100 observers, including long- and short-term observers, a delegation from the European Parliament, and diplomats from EU Member States and Norway.
Before their deployment, the short-term observers received briefings in Lusaka covering Zambia's legal framework, the political environment, Election Day procedures, security and the EU's standard election observation methodology.
Speaking during the deployment in Lusaka, Deputy Chief Observer Dr. Beata Martin-Rozumiłowicz said the deployment marked an important stage in the Mission's work.
She said the observers would be deployed across all provinces, covering both rural and urban areas, where they will monitor key Election Day procedures, including the opening of polling stations, voting, counting and the tabulation of results.
According to Dr. Martin-Rozumiłowicz, the observers' work will contribute to the Mission's independent and impartial assessment of the electoral process.
The EU Election Observation Mission has been present in Zambia since late June after being invited by the Zambian authorities. The Mission is led by Chief Observer Michael McNamara, a Member of the European Parliament from Ireland.
The Mission is observing various aspects of Zambia's electoral process, including the legal framework and its implementation, election administration, voter registration, campaign activities, campaign financing, the media environment, online and social media, and the participation of women, young people and persons with disabilities.
Observers will also monitor voting, counting, the tabulation of results, as well as the complaints and appeals process.
The EU EOM says its observers are bound by a strict Code of Conduct requiring neutrality, impartiality and non-interference in the electoral process.
The Mission also follows the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, endorsed at the United Nations in October 2005.
The EU EOM has stressed that it will not interfere in Zambia's elections, but will instead observe, assess and report on the electoral process.
The Mission is expected to issue its preliminary statement and hold a press conference in Lusaka on August 15, two days after Election Day.