LUSAKA, July 24 (Xinhua) -- The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) has deployed a short-term election observer mission to the harmonized elections in Zambia set for July 30, 2018, the regional body said on Tuesday.

The observer team comprises of representatives from several member states and is being led by Ashraf Gamal Rashed, a member of the COMESA Committee of Elders, according to a statement.

It added that the deployment of the mission follows an invitation by the Zimbabwean government through its electoral body.

"As part of its mission in Zimbabwe, the COMESA delegation will conduct pre-election observation which will include consultations with stakeholders. The aim is to gather information on election-related issues and to assess election preparedness," it added.

According to the statement, the regional body conducted a pre-election assessment mission in May this year to enhance the understanding of the electoral process and state of preparedness by various stakeholders in the southern African nation, with the findings of that assessment expected to be presented in the final report.