SADC leaders have taken the first important step of publicly stating the need for Zimbabwe to establish preconditions for the holding of credible, free and fair elections. These have been strong words from the SADC, but words not backed by action. Successive SADC resolutions on Zimbabwe have gone without implementation. It is the lack of a robust implementation mechanism for its decisions that severely weakens the SADC’s positive stand on Zimbabwe. SADC leaders have failed to maintain pressure on ZANU-PF and other GPA partners to implement agreed GPA reforms and create the environment for the holding of elections that fully comply with SADC’s principles and guidelines on the conduct of democratic elections. Should the unity government fail to take appropriate steps to institute key human rights reforms ahead of the elections, the SADC should lead the international community in taking appropriate and effective measures against those unity government officials responsible. Although the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections are simply guidelines with no legal force, the SADC still has a range of measures that it can invoke against those responsible for the violation of its standards including suspension of a state from membership and imposition of sanctions.76 To effectively promote adherence to the GPA, the SADC should, in line with its principles and guidelines on the conduct of democratic elections, ensure that it closely observes and monitors Zimbabwe’s next elections. Prior to the calling of elections, the SADC should independently examine conditions on the ground and certify that the environment is conducive to the holding of democratic elections. The SADC Election Observer Mission for the June 2008 presidential runoff election concluded that “the pre-election phase was characterized by politically motivated violence, intimidation, and displacements,” and that the process leading up to the presidential run-off elections held on June 27, 2008, did not conform to SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections, although the election day was peaceful.77 The SADC should deploy its observer mission in Zimbabwe early and in sufficient numbers to facilitate effective monitoring of the pre-election period that has in the past been characterized by violence and intimidation. 76 SADC suspended Madagascar from membership following a military coup there in March 2009. 77 SADC 2008 runoff election Observer Mission Report, Harare, June 29, 2008. 27 HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | JANUARY 2013