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Zimbabwe: Western Election Observers Not Welcome - Minister
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The Zimbabwe Guardian (London)
12 May 2008
Posted to the web 12 May 2008
Tendai Kaseke
ZIMBABWE'S Minister of Justice Patrick Chinamasa has dismissed calls by the Movement for Democratic Change's leader for international observers to come and monitor the run-off election.
Addressing a Press conference in Harare yesterday, Chinamasa said international observers will not be welcomed into the country and that the ruling Zanu PF party will not succumb to pressure from the opposition.
He accused western governments for being 'players' in Zimbabwe's politics and called on them to lift sanctions against Zimbabwe first before they come to observe elections.
"We will not allow them (Western countries) because they are players. We will think favourably of them if they lift sanctions. Until they do that, there is no basis to have any relationship with them," Chinamasa said.
The minister also had strong words for the MDC leader. He said, "Tsvangirai seeks to introduce new rules in a game that has already started. He should stop playing or acting like a spoilt child."
Chinamasa also criticised the Zambian President, Levy Mwanawasa whom he accused of not putting any effort in denouncing sanctions against Zimbabwe as resolved by the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) he currently chairs.
"Sadc undertook to call for the lifting of the illegal sanctions, but Mr Mwanawasa as the chairperson has not done so yet. It is his obligation to implement the resolution issued at the extraordinary summit held in Tanzania last year to remove immediately all forms of the illegal sanctions against Zimbabwe.
"We have not heard him calling for the lifting of the sanctions. We have been adversely affected by the sanctions, as they are creating an uneven field of play," he said.
He called on Britain and its allies to stop funding the MDC, saying this was unlawful.
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Britain's Foreign Office said a second election could not be fair unless international monitors were present.
The European Commission also called for international observers to watch a run-off vote to ensure it is "fair" and "free".
Zimbabwe's government banned foreign observers from watching the March elections. It also prevented most foreign journalists from covering the vote.
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