THE African Union (AU)’s observer mission yesterday said it was satisfied with Zimbabwe’s preparations for elections next week.

The elections are being run by under fire Zimbabwe Electoral Commission led by Justice Priscilla Chigumba.

Head of delegation and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemarian Desalegn Boshe told journalists on arrival in Harare that they were happy with the electoral processes despite howls of disapproval from the opposition.

“I expect a democratic free and fair election as the preparation shows,” Boshe said.

“So far its fine, it’s going in the right direction. There are complaints (from the opposition), but we are working on those issues. By and large, the government has prepared for these elections to be free, fair and democratic,” the former Ethiopian leader, who was forced to step down a few months ago following rolling protests, said.

The opposition led by the MDC Alliance coalition has been raising concerns on the ballot paper to be used in the election demanding that it be randomly tested for suspected scientific fraud.

The AU joins other foreign observer missions that have also already blessed the Zimbabwean election processes days before the elections are held.