Obasanjo will arrive in Zimbabwe 10 days before the vote, which has
already been overshadowed by allegations of political intimidation and
electoral rolls packed with 'ghost voters'. In a statement, the
AU said the monitors drawn from African NGOs and member countries will work with nine observers already on the ground.
Obasanjo twice ruled Nigeria and left with the reputation of conducting Nigeria’s worst elections in 2003 and 2007. A
former soldier, he headed a military government between 1976 and 1979
and served an eight-year term as an elected president between May 1999
and May 2007.
President Robert Mugabe has opposed the entry of
non-African observers to monitor the election, which will see the
long-term leader try to extend his 33-year term. Rights groups
have expressed concern that the vote will see a repeat of vote rigging
and violence that has marred previous polls. Amnesty
International on Friday called on regional bodies to "meticulously
document human rights violations, in particular those committed by
government agencies".
Zimbabwe's security forces, controlled by
President Robert Mugabe, 89, have in the past been accused of rights
abuses and intimidating political opponents. At least 200 people
were killed in the run-up to the June 2008 presidential run-off between
Mugabe and his arch rival Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
Tsvangirai will again be Mugabe’s opponent on July 31.
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