Southern Africa: Substantiate Claims on Polls, Says SADC Observer Mission Head
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 Published by the government of Zimbabwe |
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The Herald (Harare)
20 March 2008
Posted to the web 20 March 2008
Harare
Head of the Sadc election observer mission Mr Jose Marcos Barrica has challenged people and organisations alleging that next Saturday's elections will not be free and fair to substantiate their claims.
He said it was important for anyone making an allegation to provide evidence to that effect to enable the mission to make an informed assessment of the situation. Mr Barrica said this while responding to questions from journalists at a media briefing in Harare yesterday.
The journalists had asked him to comment on reports from certain international organisations, the European Union and some of their ambassadors accredited to Zimbabwe and opposition political parties that the poll would not be free and fair. Mr Barrica said he had heard the allegations from some individuals and organisations in the meetings he has held with them since his arrival but none had substantiated their allegations.
"Accusations are normal during these times of elections, but it is important that whoever is making these accusations give evidence. Our mission here is for facts and not speculation because anyone can talk what he feels, but we have, however, as a mission taken note of that," said Mr Barrica, who is Angolan Minister of Youth, Sport and Culture.
He said although there were some few areas that needed to be rectified, the general environment prevailing in the country was conducive for a free and fair election. He gave an example of the publication of the voters' roll, which he said was done a bit late. Mr Barrica, however, said that alone could not be taken as evidence to say the polls would not be free and fair as no system anywhere in the world would follow everything to the letter.
Asked to comment on what he thought about comments attributed to some service chiefs that they would not salute certain candidates should they win the elections, Mr Barrica said those individuals were speaking in their personal capacities. "We have heard complaints to that effect from political actors, and some EU ambassadors. We would have been worried if it was an institutional position, like from ZEC or by the Government," said Mr Barrica.
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He said his mission would continue meeting stakeholders to hear their views. The Sadc mission has so far met both MDC factions, ambassadors accredited to Africa, Asia, the EU and Zanu-PF Secretary for Information and Publicity Cde Nathan Shamuyarira. He said a comprehensive report would be issued after the election.
Read comments. Write your own.
Criticism of the Zimbabwe Govt. or any govt for that matter ought not be blamed on White-Anglo British or anyone else. Phiri's comments mean Zimbabweans are incapable of making judgement and criticism independantly of the White Race. Phiri's understanding of the maturity of Zimbabweans is wrong. I am a Zimbabwean and I do not agree with the policies and operations of the Mugabe Administration. I make my own assessment without influence from the so called White Media. Mr. Phiri look into all that Mugabe did over the last 28 years, you will find more bad acts than good ones. The… [Read Full Text]
Mr. Moyo you are pretending that the white anglo media is powerless and does not seek to change African gov;ts. You are absolutely wrong on your view of the Western white media. Their interest has never/will be black African interests. Africans have to believe in their own people. Just look at the way Black Zimbabweans have been treated in the UK! Clearly it is plain betrayel of those Zimbabweans who were running away to the UK for freedom, only to be told to go back. If you continue to trust those foolish white anglos, you will end up on the… [Read Full Text]
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Allegations and accusation of the Zimbabwe Gov't are allover, without true facts. Allegations, mainly fueled by the anglo-white British media a terrible intereference in Zimbabwe. Zimbabweans do not want British choosen candidates. It is a crime to interfear in another country's elections.