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Zimbabwe: Re-Run Must Be Free

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The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)

EDITORIAL
12 May 2008
Posted to the web 12 May 2008

Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has finally agreed to contest an election run-off with President Robert Mugabe. However, the political crisis in the southern African country seems to be far from over after Mr Tsvangirai gave conditions for his participation in the run-off, whose date has yet to be set by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).

Mr Tsvangirai said he would only participate if international observers and media get full access to ensure the run-off is free and fair. He added that ZEC was discredited and should be revamped, and called on the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) to send peacekeepers "to instil public confidence in the vote".

Needless to say, the government has rejected the demands, saying the run-off will be held within the framework of the constitution and electoral laws.

But the opposition leader, who beat President Mugabe in the first round but failed to garner more than 50 per cent of the vote, cannot be blamed for deciding to take no chances. It took a month for ZEC to announce the outcome of the first round of voting, raising suspicion that the body came up with doctored results which necessitated the run-off.

Africa must go out of its way to ensure the run-off is free and fair and that the will of the Zimbabwean people is respected by all and sundry.

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