Amid the ongoing general elections in Zimbabwe, thirty-nine local observers have been arrested, according to police reports. The arrests were carried out during multiple raids on Wednesday night, during which computers and mobile phones were confiscated from the observers. The observers are from two prominent civic groups, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) and Election Resource Centre (ERC), which work to ensure free and fair elections and conduct independent vote tabulations.

The arrested observers were allegedly coordinating the release of election results by civic organizations. This move has drawn strong criticism from opposition parties and human rights advocates, who see it as an attempt to hinder the transparency and credibility of the electoral process. Observers play a critical role in monitoring elections and ensuring that they are conducted fairly and accurately.

The ongoing elections have seen some unprecedented challenges, including an unscheduled second day of voting due to purported delays in printing ballot papers. Opposition groups have raised concerns about potential vote manipulation, and the arrests of observers have heightened tensions around the electoral process.

International observers from organizations such as the European Union, Commonwealth, African Union, and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are also monitoring the elections. The arrests of local observers have raised concerns about the overall integrity of the electoral process and the democratic principles at stake.