Pretoria — The South African Observer Mission says the results of the 2005 parliamentary elections in Zimbabwe last week reflect the will of the people.

In the polls held last Thursday, the ruling Zanu-PF clinched a two-thirds majority of the 150-seat parliament while the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) won 41 seats.

Only one seat went to independent candidate, Jonathan Moyo.

The SA observer mission was put together by President Thabo Mbeki to observe the 2005 Parliamentary elections there.

The Mission had the mandate to intervene on any activity that would undermine the possibility to have free and fair elections in Zimbabwe.

The team says it received reports from all provinces on daily observations. It also paid a courtesy call to President Robert Mugabe and opposition MDC leader, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai.

Based on these reports, it came to the conclusion that among others, the elections were conducted in line with the laws of that country, which by and large conformed to the SADC Principles and Guidelines, governing elections in the region.

"As per the mandate of the Mission, we intervened in a number of areas," says a media statement by the leader of the SA Observer Mission, Labour Minister Membathisi Mdladlana.

Following the arrest of a number of MDC supporters at a rally held at the Quality International Hotel in Harare, the mission intervened "successfully", and had the supporters released by the police.

In Mashonaland Central the observer team met with the police after the MDC had alleged it had been refused permission to hold a meeting at the Bindura Sports ground on 27 March 2005.

"Again, upon the intervention of our observers the meeting went ahead as planned," the statement says.

With regard to the alleged use of food distribution as a political tool, the mission was unable to verify the truthfulness of the same, where follow-ups were made.

Concerning the alleged acts of intimidation and the tempering with elections posters, there is general agreement that the police did take action without fear or favour.

The Mission also concluded that the political climate in Zimbabwe, under which the 2005 parliamentary elections were held, was conducive for elections to take place, that in all provinces, parties and candidates had the political space to campaign and that the conduct of political parties showed much tolerance and maturity throughout the process.

It also said electoral institutions conducted the elections smoothly and efficiently.

"All organisations and political parties were unanimous in the view that, in comparison to the 2000 and 2002 elections the political environment for free elections was much improved.

"In this regard, political parties were able to campaign freely everywhere in the country without hindrance. During these elections the people of Zimbabwe and political parties in particular, demonstrated a great degree of political maturity and tolerance," said the statement.

It said the polling day proceeded without reports of any notable irregularities and that polling stations processed voters quicker without people waiting for long in queues.

"The positive inputs made by observer teams also contributed towards the creation of an even better political climate during the elections," the team said.