By VANESSA BIDOIS
Former Maori Affairs Minister Tau Henare and career diplomat Chris Laidlaw will oversee next month's parliamentary elections in strife-torn Zimbabwe.
A third New Zealander may also join the 40-strong Commonwealth observer mission as political violence threatens to mar voting on June 24 and 25.
President Robert Mugabe has promised free and fair elections, amid a spiralling campaign of intimidation against opposition supporters and the occupation of hundreds of white-owned farms. More than 20 people have died, including four white farmers.
Mr Henare said yesterday that he had never observed an election - "apart from counting my own votes" - and had never been to Africa, but felt he could offer a different perspective.
Although saddened by the political violence, he was positive that the country would resolve the conflict and he was unfazed by the potential for violence.
"It happens in New Zealand - not on the same scale but there's always the tendency in New Zealand for things to turn nasty."
A former High Commissioner to several African countries, including Zimbabwe, Mr Laidlaw leaves for the capital, Harare, tomorrow as part of an advance group of six observers.
The other members of the mission are expected to arrive in Johannesburg for briefings between June 10 and 12 before travelling to Zimbabwe.
Mr Laidlaw said their presence in the early stages of the election process was extremely important. "There are a whole series of factors that will determine the outcome of the election and certainly affect the final assessment by the Commonwealth group as to whether it was free and fair."
Henare, Laidlaw to vet Zimbabwe poll
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