Sunday Times 2
Lankan High Commissioner in Kenya joins Election Observer Team for Zimbabwe
View(s):In a testament to Sri Lanka’s growing diplomatic engagement with African nations, the Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Kenya, Kana Kananathan, has been selected as an Election Observer for Zimbabwe’s 2023 presidential and parliamentary elections. This is the fourth time Kananathan has taken on this role in an African State.
Mr Kananathan with former president Goodluck Jonathan
Kananathan has served as an Elections Observer alongside an eminent assembly of former leaders and dignitaries. Among his distinguished colleagues were former Presidents of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan; Mozambique’s Joaquim Chissano; and Zambia’s former Vice President, Dr Nevers Mumba. The former Prime Minister of Uganda, Dr Ruhakana Rugunda, as well as representatives from the Commonwealth team Headed by Amb Amina Mohamed former Foreign Minister of Kenya, Amb Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe former Finance Minister of Zambia and the current Secretary General of COMESA, European Union Parliamentarians, and other international monitors, joined forces to contribute their expertise to the observation process.
Mr Kananathan’s experience and insights from his previous roles as a diplomatic representative in African countries positions him to understand the socio-political dynamics at play during elections.
Zimbabweans head to the polls to choose the country’s next president in what political pundits believe will be a tight race. 11 candidates are vying for the top position. But the race is largely seen as a rematch between Nelson Chamisa, the 45-year-old opposition leader, and the man who defeated him in the 2018 presidential election, Emmerson Mnangagwa, the incumbent president.
While the BRICS Summit unfolds in neighbouring South Africa, Zimbabwe’s election holds key implications for the country’s future trajectory.
Sri Lanka’s proactive involvement in the African election observation arena highlights the nation’s commitment to democracy, fair elections, and international cooperation.