Postpone Zimbabwe elections: SADC
23 June 2008
The chairman of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, has called for the postponement of Zimbabwe's presidential run-off elections, scheduled for 27 June.
Mwanawasa urged Zimbabwe's election authorities to postpone the run-off in order to allow for the establishment of conditions suitable for the holding of genuinely free and fair elections.
Tsvangirai pulls out
His call followed Sunday's announcement by Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai that he was quitting the run-off election against Robert Mugabe, saying the vote could not be free and fair.
"We in the MDC cannot ask [Zimbabweans] to cast their vote on 27 June when that vote would cost them their lives," Tsvangirai told reporters on Sunday. "We will no longer participate in the violent illegitimate sham of an election process."
The decision has almost certainly handed victory by default to Mugabe, 84, who has ruled Zimbabwe without interruption since the country's independence from Britain 28 years ago.
'Not free and fair'
Mwanawasa told a media conference on Sunday that the situation in Zimbabwe "does not stimulate the holding of free and fair elections" for various reasons, including the banning and disruption of MDC campaign rallies, the arrests of Tsvangirai and detention of MDC Secretary-General Tendai Biti, who faces treason charges punishable by death.
Mwanawasa also cited Mugabe's declaration that he would not accept a victory by the MDC in the run-off, and his threats of an impending civil war.
"Apart from this, the opposition has been denied equal access to state media, thereby denying them the opportunity to communicate their campaign messages effectively," the SADC chairman noted.
According to the SADC and an African Union (AU) report by the International Press Institute (IPI), there have also been physical attacks on journalists in Zimbabwe in the last few months.
'Embarrassing for Africa'
In view of this, Mwanawasa said, it would be embarrassing to both the SADC region and Africa to proceed with the run-off. Postponing the elections would also avert a catastrophe threatening the region.
Asked whether his call for a postponement had the blessing of the other SADC heads of state, Mwanawasa said he had used his discretion as SADC chairman in making the call, adding that it would be sad if the majority of SADC leaders did not support him.
Mwanawasa also said he was disappointed that some Zimbabweans had misinterpreted Zambia's efforts to resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe, adding that he was concerned about the deteriorating economic situation in the neighbouring country.
"My concern and that of the Zambian people is to see that Zimbabwe lives in peace for itself and its neighbours. Our relations with Zimbabwe are still cordial, hence our continued efforts to see that Zimbabweans enjoy peace once more. A troubled Zimbabwe is a troubled Zambia."
Source: BuaNews-NNN
