UN speaks out on Zimbabwe
24 June 2008
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has urged Zimbabwe to postpone the presidential run-off election slated for Friday, in light of the violence in the country and the "understandable" withdrawal from the poll by Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai.
"Conditions do not exist for free and fair elections right now in Zimbabwe," Ban told reporters in New York on Monday. "There has been too much violence, too much intimidation. A vote held in these conditions would lack all legitimacy."
Security Council in hard-hitting statement
On Monday night, the UN Security Council also condemned the political violence engulfing Zimbabwe and called on the government to stop the attacks, cease intimidating the opposition and release political leaders who have been detained.
In a statement read out by Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad of the United States, which holds the rotating council presidency this month, the 15-member panel said the violence and restrictions on the activities of the opposition "have made it impossible for a free and fair election to take place.
"To be legitimate, any government of Zimbabwe must take account of the interest of all its citizens," the statement said, adding that the results of the first round of elections on 29 March should be respected.
Council members urged international monitors and observers to remain in Zimbabwe until the crisis was resolved, and welcomed the recent efforts of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and especially South African President Thabo Mbeki, to find a peaceful settlement "that allows a legitimate government to be formed that reflects the will of the Zimbabwean people."
They also voiced concern at the grave humanitarian situation, and condemned the Zimbabwean government's decision to suspend the operation of aid organisations.
African leaders 'all agree'
The UN secretary-general, who has been in touch with a number of African leaders on the ongoing crisis in Zimbabwe, added that they all agreed that the elections should be postponed until the right conditions are in place.
"I would strongly discourage the authorities with going ahead with the run-off on Friday. It will only deepen divisions within the country and produce a result that cannot be credible," he said.
On Sunday, Tsvangirai announced that he was withdrawing from the 27 June run-off in which he was set to face President Robert Mugabe.
The country has been marred by political violence since the first round of the presidential election on 29 March.
'Democracy in Africa at stake'
"The campaign of threats and intimidation we have seen in Zimbabwe goes against the very spirit of democracy," the UN secretary-general said. "Instead of openness, free competition and transparency, we have witnessed fear, hostility and blatant attacks against Zimbabwean citizens."
He added that what happened in Zimbabwe would have an impact well beyond the country's borders.
"The situation in Zimbabwe represents the single greatest challenge to regional stability in southern Africa today. The region's political and economic security are at stake, as is the very institution of elections in Africa."
Last week, Ban sent senior UN political official Haile Menkerios to Zimbabwe in an attempt reduce political tensions. Menkerios remains in the region, after having met with officials in both Zimbabwe and neighbouring South Africa.
Source: BuaNews
