HARARE, July 27 (Xinhua) -- The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) on Friday deployed its short-term observers to Zimbabwe's Monday polls.
Prior to deployment, the 19 observers underwent an intensive training to equip them with information on the legal frameworks of Zimbabwe as well as election observation skills and tools.
The regional economic grouping joins several other organizations including the Southern African Development Community, African Union, European Union and the Commonwealth that have deployed throughout the country for the crunch polls.
"Our mission will endeavor to observe the various phases of the electoral cycle including campaigns, voting, vote counting and declaration of election results," head of the observer mission Ashraf Gamal Rashed told reporters.
The deployment comes after COMESA in May conducted a pre-election assessment during which it interacted with various Zimbabwe electoral stakeholders.
