NEWS - INTERNATIONAL
| 2013-08-06Australia joins UK, US, urges Zim poll re-run
Robert Mugabe
CAPE TOWN – Australia which suspended sanctions against Zimbabwe to help encourage “free and fair” elections has added its voice to international concerns on voting in last week’s elections, calling for the election to be re-run, according to a newzimbabwe.com report.
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai and his party lost dismally to Zanu-PF and President Robert Mugabe in the country’s eighth elections since independence.
Australia’s foreign minister Bob Carr called for a re-run of the poll because of doubts about the integrity of the electoral roll and voting procedures.
“I am pleased that last Wednesday’s election proceeded largely without violence but the African Union, SADC, civil society groups and our own Embassy in Harare have all raised concerns with the voters roll and voting procedures,” Carr said.
“These appear to have disenfranchised large numbers of voters and raised doubts about the credibility of the election results.
“Prime Minister Tsvangirai’s MDC party has called the elections a ‘huge farce’.
“It is vital that the results of the elections are credible and reflect the will of the Zimbabwean people.”
Britain and the United States have criticised Zimbabwe’s election result as not credible and seriously flawed.
US secretary of state John Kerry described the election as “deeply flawed” and said the US “does not believe that the results ... represent a credible expression of the will of the Zimbabwean people.”
British Foreign Secretary William Hague added his own “grave concerns” over the conduct of the vote in the former colony.
However, there have been gentler assessments from African observers with South African President Jacob Zuma offering his “profound congratulations” to Mugabe.
Meanwhile, Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party might have swept to victory but the grim reality of dealing with a stunted economy and creating jobs are the sternest test for the 89-year-old ruler, according to a report.
Daily News also said Mugabe “might also not have the stamina to effectively supervise his ministers, a situation which could further entrench corruption and fuel economic collapse”.
Economists and political advisors say with Mugabe at the helm, armed with his populist expropriation policies, there is no way Zanu-PF could rescue the country from the edge of a precipice.
Renowned economist John Robertson said Zanu-PF enforced policies such as indigenisation will “indeed bleed the economy” and “discourage investors”.
Australia’s foreign minister Bob Carr called for a re-run of the poll because of doubts about the integrity of the electoral roll and voting procedures.
“I am pleased that last Wednesday’s election proceeded largely without violence but the African Union, SADC, civil society groups and our own Embassy in Harare have all raised concerns with the voters roll and voting procedures,” Carr said.
“These appear to have disenfranchised large numbers of voters and raised doubts about the credibility of the election results.
“Prime Minister Tsvangirai’s MDC party has called the elections a ‘huge farce’.
“It is vital that the results of the elections are credible and reflect the will of the Zimbabwean people.”
Britain and the United States have criticised Zimbabwe’s election result as not credible and seriously flawed.
US secretary of state John Kerry described the election as “deeply flawed” and said the US “does not believe that the results ... represent a credible expression of the will of the Zimbabwean people.”
British Foreign Secretary William Hague added his own “grave concerns” over the conduct of the vote in the former colony.
However, there have been gentler assessments from African observers with South African President Jacob Zuma offering his “profound congratulations” to Mugabe.
Meanwhile, Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party might have swept to victory but the grim reality of dealing with a stunted economy and creating jobs are the sternest test for the 89-year-old ruler, according to a report.
Daily News also said Mugabe “might also not have the stamina to effectively supervise his ministers, a situation which could further entrench corruption and fuel economic collapse”.
Economists and political advisors say with Mugabe at the helm, armed with his populist expropriation policies, there is no way Zanu-PF could rescue the country from the edge of a precipice.
Renowned economist John Robertson said Zanu-PF enforced policies such as indigenisation will “indeed bleed the economy” and “discourage investors”.
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