STORY: AU commends Zimbabwe for peaceful election
DATELINE: Aug. 26, 2023
LENGTH: 00:02:02
LOCATION: Harare
CATEGORY: POLITICS

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the press briefing
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): NEVERS MUMBA, Head of the SADC EOM
3. various of the press briefing
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): AMINA MOHAMED, Chairperson, Commonwealth Observer Group
5. various of the press briefing

STORYLINE:

The African Union (AU) and other regional bodies on the continent on Friday commended Zimbabwe for holding a peaceful election.
   
In separate preliminary statements following this week's general elections, observer missions from the AU, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) hailed the peaceful environment that characterized the pre-election period and voting day.
  
Zimbabweans voted on Wednesday to choose a president, new members of parliament and representatives of local governments. Voting was extended to Thursday in some parts of the country, particularly in Harare and Bulawayo, due to logistical challenges.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): NEVERS MUMBA, Head of the SADC EOM (Elections Observer Mission)
"The mission commends the people of Zimbabwe for maintaining a peaceful political environment during the pre-election period and on voting day itself. The mission urges all political parties and the people of Zimbabwe, and all other stakeholders to allow the ZEC to announce the final results as legally mandated."

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): AMINA MOHAMED, Chairperson, Commonwealth Observer Group
"Election Day proceeded in an atmosphere of relative peace and calm, and we observed that the turnout of many voters, especially women and youth. This is a testimony to the desire of all Zimbabweans to make their voices heard and contribute to the country's ongoing democratic consolidation."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Harare.
(XHTV)