Oliver Mathenge and Julienne Lauler
26 June 2008
Nairobi — Kenya has called for the postponement of Friday's presidential run-off in Zimbabwe citing unfavourable conditions for a free and fair poll.
Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Foreign Affairs Minister Moses Wetang'ula have also urged the African Union to take a firm stand on the Zimbabwean crisis and if need be, send a peacekeeping mission to the South African country.
"Zimbabwe right now is a disaster in the making," Mr Odinga told an open forum on the Zimbabwe crisis in Nairobi.
"The runoff should be postponed until there are conditions favourable for a free and fair process."
Mr Wetang'ula added: "Zanu-PF is going into the poll as a ritual. They already have a pre-determined outcome."
Mr Odinga and Mr Wetangu'la also said that the government was ready to evacuate the 550 Kenyans in Zimbabwe if the need to do so arises.
The run-off between President Robert Mugabe and MDC candidate Morgan Tsvangirai arose after Mr Tsvangirai defeated Mr Mugabe in the March 29 presidential election. However, the MDC leader failed to garner the 50 per majority needed.
According to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, Mr Tsvangirai won with 47 per cent. Early this week, Mr Tsvangirai pulled out of the run-off, saying that a free and fair poll was impossible in the current climate of violence.
Over 90 MDC supporters have been killed by groups believed to be allied to Zanu-PF. Over 200,000 others have reportedly fled from their homes fearing attacks.
Mr Mugabe has repeatedly vowed that he would not hand over power to the opposition, which he has branded a puppet of Britain and United States.
Mr Odinga told a forum discussing the Zimbabwe situation that he had already suggested to the AU chairperson and Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete to appoint a mediator to initiate dialogue in the crisis.
The public forum was organised by the Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD) and held at Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC).
"I told him you need to take a firm stand at the SADC meeting. We need to appoint a mediator if the elections are held. There should be a supervisory team from the AU with support from United Nations," he said.
The regional bloc- Southern Africa Development Community- meets on Wednesday, in Swaziland, to discuss the crisis in its member state.
"I suggested former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, and Ketumile Masire the former president of Botswana. Kikwete assured me they are going to consider the two names."
Mr Wetang'ula noted that the Kenyan government supported dialogue as the first move to settle the crisis. He, however, added that Kenya would support the AU to the end in whatever decision that it would make.
The PM warned that if no action is taken on Zimbabwe, the situation could soon degenerate.
"If the world does not act now, we will soon have a situation very similar to what we saw in Rwanda," he said.
The east African country witnessed the killing of 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus during a 100- day act of genocide that shocked the world.
"Mr Mugabe wants dialogue but not at this point because he knows that he lost the first round of the election to his opponent. If negotiations start now, Mugabe knows that he goes in as the outsider," said Mr Odinga.
He added: "He therefore wants to go through a flawed electoral process and then declare himself president which is not acceptable."
The Commonwealth has expressed concern over continuing violence in Zimbabwe.
In a statement, the Commonwealth secretariat noted that it was concerned that the scheduled run-off could not take place in conditions that assured Zimbabweans of the opportunity to express their will freely through a credible and democratic process.
The Commonwealth noted that it remained committed to supporting regional efforts to address the situation.
Opposition forces
On Wednesday, Mr Tsvangirai received measured support from other opposition forces after formally withdrawing from the run-off. However, some legal experts in Zimbabwe said that the move was too late to stop the election.
The country's divided opposition parties have been accused of keeping president Mugabe in power after they failed to unite against the 84 year-old leader.
Leaders of various parties in that country were unanimous that Mr Tsvangirai had no choice but to quit the election. Mr Tsvangirai's lawyers formally wrote to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission on Wednesday notifying them about the decision to pull out.
In a related development, Mr Tsvangirai, who had sought refuge at the Dutch embassy last Sunday, left the premises briefly to visit his home.
At a press conference, Mr Tsvangirai said the African Union, backed by the United Nations, should lead a transitional process in Zimbabwe. But he later returned to the Dutch embassy.
Additional reporting by Kipsepile Nyathi and Reuters
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As soon as someone has something bad to say you immediately attack the messenger. Theres just so many messengers to attack at the moment. Surely that tells you something?
Raila Odinga has no moral right to attack Zimbabwe in the manner he is doing and is it now a matter of Southern Africa vs East Africa"s Raila and Mlisho. Why are you being used by the British,don"t you have the brains to think on your own. Its a disgrace to hear Brown saying he will tell African leaders to disown one of their own and they do exactly that.So you are told of what to do and you comply even on things that undermine your being independent from former colonial masters.Are they still your masters in matters of Africa"s… [Read Full Text]
Hey Icho! Raila Odinga is now in some pretty illustrious company. Apart from the UN Secretary General, the UN Security Council (which includes South Africa, China and Russia), the Chairman of SADC, the President of the ANC, the SADC Troika of Tanzania, Angola and Swaziland, and the President of Senegal; he has no been joined by no less a person than Mandela.
Are they also being used by the British?
When you say that it is now a matter of Southern Africa vs East Africa's Raila and Mlisho; exactly what countries in Southern Africa do you think are still behind… [Read Full Text]
Icho, explain why Mugabe kills, tortures, beats and otherwise intimidates his people. Quit trying to shift the focus to the Western powers who really have no influence in Africa anylonger. Mugabe makes the Rhodesian Front absolutely attractive. Explain that.
Katz, most of us find it strange that this website and other "anglo" media outlets are using commentators from Kenya. Strange, because at this point in time we cannot say the flawed poll in Kenya, the aftermath and Unite gov't mean the end of problems in Kenya. I doubt whether the problems are over in Kenya. So, it is surprising that Kenyan politicians and journalists are being used to provide advise to Zimbabweans when they are not out completely from their problems. Should the blind be leading the newly blind? I do not think so! I for one I'm suspicious… [Read Full Text]
Raila Odinga, please shut up,do not comment in any way about Zimbabwe and concentrate on repatriating you displaced in order for you to come into office thru the back door, our hands are very dirty.Its really you who is a disaster to the Kenyan population. You came into office thru the back door, that cannot happen in Zimbabwe. You are a British imperial zealot,so leave us alone we Pan Africanists to fight colonial domination.Remember Kenya sold out on Zimbabwe, South Africa & Namibia during a CTES conference when you burnt your ivory in order to please the West when they… [Read Full Text]