Staff Reporter
Nevers Mumba, Head of the Southern African Development Community Electoral Observation Mission (SEOM) has attracted global attention with questions being raised in his conduct as the head of the bloc’s election observation mission. Some analysts have opined that there exist close ties between Mumba and Citizens Coalition for Change leader, Nelson Chamisa. Their assertions are that it was always questionable whether Mumba could serve as an impartial observer. Both Mumba and Chamisa are pastors, fueling rumours that their relationship transcends political lines and delves into the social sphere. Given these alleged connections, one has to question the objectivity of Mumba’s report.
Ironically, Mumba’s religious background, which should have been a foundation for impartiality, seems to have had the opposite effect. As a clergyman, he is held to a high standard of truthfulness and objectivity, virtues that are essential in religious teachings. However, it appears that Mumba allowed his closeness to Chamisa to cloud his judgement, leading to a biased report that calls into question the very ethical principles he should embody.
Adding fuel to the fire are developments that Mumba escorted Chamisa to the polling station to cast his vote. Naturally, this casts serious doubts on the objectivity and reliability of any report coming from him. It even begs the question: was Mumba’s election observation report prepared in collaboration with Chamisa en route to the polling station? Such allegation, if substantiated, severely undermine the credibility of the observer mission reports.
Mumba is, however, not new to controversy as in 2004, the then Zambian President, Levy MWANAWASA sacked Mumba from the Vice Presidency for sparking a row with neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo and for gross insubordination. Mr Mumba had claimed that Congolese business people were funding Zambia’s opposition parties. Now the nervous Nevers has poisoned relations between Zimbabwe and Zambia. Fortunately, he can now not be fired from his position as the Gdansk Declaration henchman.
