AU calls for unity govt in Zimbabwe
Luyanda Makapela
2 July 2008
African leaders meeting at the African Union (AU) summit in Sharm-El-Sheikh, Egypt have come out in support of the creation of a government of national unity in Zimbabwe.
The heads of state attending the summit held a special meeting on Zimbabwe on Tuesday, against the backdrop of international pressure on the AU to declare the recent election in Zimbabwe invalid.
Robert Mugabe, the only running candidate in the election, was sworn in as Zimbabwe's president on Sunday. Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai had withdrawn from Friday's election, citing violence against his supporters.
The African leaders said they were concerned about the negative reports on the election from SADC, AU and Pan-African Parliament observers. The SADC observer mission said on Monday that the election was undemocratic.
"We encourage President Mugabe and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to honour their commitment to initiate dialogue with a view to promote peace, stability, democracy and reconciliation in Zimbabwe," the AU said in a statement.
The AU leaders voiced their support for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) facilitation efforts in Zimbabwe, and called for a continuation of these efforts.
The body also expressed its appreciation to the SADC and its facilitator in Zimbabwe, South African President Thabo Mbeki, as well as AU Commission chairperson Jean Ping, for their ongoing efforts to reconcile Mugabe's Zanu-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.
The AU said the SADC should "further establish a mechanism on the ground in order to seize the momentum for a negotiated solution."
The AU said it remained convinced that Zimbabweans would be able to resolve their differences and work together again as one nation, provided they received support from the SADC, the AU and the world at large.
Source: BuaNews
