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Zimbabwe: Zimbabwe - FG Wants Run-Off Postponed
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This Day (Lagos)
27 June 2008
Posted to the web 27 June 2008
Stanley Nkwazema
Abuja
The Federal Government has joined the international community in calling for the postponement of the Zimbabwean run-off election scheduled for today.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement in Abuja yesterday that this would allow for a more conducive atmosphere for a free and fair election which would be in accordance with universally accepted democratic principles.
Earlier yesterday, the House of Representatives urged President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to intervene in the political crisis rocking Zimbabawe.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry said in the statement: "In this connection, Nigeria joins the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and well-meaning friends of Zimbabwe in calling for a postponement of the election.
"In the present circumstance, it is doubtful if a credible run-off election can be held in Zimbabwe," it added.
The statement added that the Nigerian government was of the view that the government and people of Zimbabwe could rise to the challenges facing their country.
"Nigeria therefore calls on the government of Zimbabwe to take up the offer of fresh negotiations with a view to restoring normalcy and a congenial atmosphere for free and fair elections in the country."
It called on the people of Zimbabwe to rededicate themselves to peaceful and credible elections so as to guarantee that the outcome would be widely accepted by all.
The statement, however, expressed Nigeria's desire for genuine democracy informed by its participation as leading member of the ECOWAS Election Monitoring Team under the leadership of retired Gen. Yakubu Gowon.
President Yar'Adua, according to the House, should use Nigeria's leading position in Africa to bring to a halt to the hostilities between the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
The House stand was sequel to a motion sponsored by the Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Gbenga Oduwaiye, the Chairman of the House Committee on Justice, Hon. Henry Seriake Dickson and 23 others on Wednesday.
Oduwaiye, while addressing the House yesterday said: "The political crisis in Zimbabwe which arose as a consequence of the last general elections and the up-coming Presidential re-run election in the country can lead the country to an unpalatable situation."
Oduwaiye said the sponsors of the motion are "worried that the situation may soon degenerate into violent civil unrest and a major displacement of citizens with enormous implications on the socio-economic wellbeing of the Central and Southern regions and the continent at large"
The House resolved at the end of the debate to "urge the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to leverage the leadership position of Nigeria and its inherent goodwill, to mid-wife an immediate cessation of hostilities between the supporters of the ruling party and those of the opposing parties in order to halt the imminent decline into anarchy;
"Urge the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to effect a meeting with other leaders of the African Union (AU) targeted towards bringing the ruling and opposing parties to agree to a mutually beneficial political arrangement tentatively until proper elections can be held under the close scrutiny of international observers."
The House, however, mandated the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and Integration in Africa to invite the Foreign Affairs Minister to brief it on the nation's diplomatic response to the political crisis in Zimbabwe."
The House had earlier rejected an amendment to the prayers that former Head of State Gen. Gowon be recalled from leading the AU team to monitor the re-run election holding in the country today.
MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, had said his party was pulling out of today's presidential run-off election due to fears that it would be a charade.
A growing number of African nations, the US and former colonial power, Britain, have said they do not believe the poll would be free and fair because of violence that the opposition blames on veteran President Robert Mugabe.
The MDC had said at least 70 of its supporters had been killed since he defeated Mugabe in a March 29 vote but fell short of the outright majority needed to avoid a run-off, according to official figures.
Mugabe, 84, is fighting to cling onto power in the country he has ruled since independence in 1980.
Tsvangirai has been detained five times while campaigning this month.
MDC's Secretary-General, Tendai Biti, who was held on treason charges, that could carry the death penalty was yesterday granted bail by a magistrate's court in the country.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela had Wednesday said the problem in Zimbabwe was a failure of leadership.
Mandela who broke his silence over the Zimbabwean situation at a dinner in London said the country was facing a failure of leadership.
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Meanwhile, following Mugabe's alleged abuse of human rights and outright disrespect for democratic ethos, Queen Elizabeth II of England Wednesday stripped him of his honorary knighthood.
Nigeria, you can only postpone your Obasanjo corruption cases. We are obligated by our constitution and not mercenary public opinion from outside Zimbabwe.We will go ahead with the presidential run off election as required by Zimbabwean law and not British colonial thinking. Please keep out. Remember President Mugabe pursueded the military dictators in Nigeria not to hang Obasanjo whilst in jail for treason.After that Obasanjo then contested elections and won as president of Nigeria but immideately forgot those who assisted in having him freed and sold out on Zimbabwe together with this other Nigerian military guy who represented the... [Read Full Text]
i think what you said is true,the british and americans did not only stole from us they also turned our leaders to guttless corrupt toys.who actually do not have any reasonable stand in matters affecting Nigerians and Africans as awhole. Nigerian leaders presently do not have the justification to tell Zimbabweans what to do with their election.
you an idiot if u dint know that zim is porverty striken ,no food.no water nothing.How can u even compare Zim to nigeria.dont go there we all know Nigeria still has some of the richest people in the world, your mouth is sharp because your probly eating gourvement money.how many ppl die every day in Zim????? answer me??????? Ur Country is a wreck and if nothing is done every one in Zim will son die of hunger including mugabe himself, theill soon freeze all ur accounts and start the sanctions.
Icho, thanks for the comment.I,m nigerian and is witness to all british can do to destroy a country.Peace and love to zimbabwe,peace to Africa.
Of all African countries, Nigeria is the only one that is asking for a posponement of this election. Will Nigeria tell the world that she understands the situation in Zimbabwe better than South Africa or other SADC countries or Nigeria is demonstrating that she a puppet of the US and Britain? Like Nigeria's stance on AFRICOM where the President declared that he is partnering the US against the wishes of all other African countries, Nigerian leaders' policies seem to rival those of Mobutu of Congo in the 1960s through 1990s. WHERE WILL THIS END?
"Like Nigeria's stance on AFRICOM where the President declared that he is partnering the US against the wishes of all other African countries, Nigerian leaders' policies seem to rival those of Mobutu of Congo in the 1960s through 1990s."
Wow…sweetheart, where did you get that blatantly incorrect information from? Let me school you. Read the information below (from an internationally renowned and veritable news source) and then kindly adjust your argument accordingly.. "The lukewarm response in Africa to Mr Bush's idea of a US military command headquarters in Africa, called Africom, was evident on this visit. It has been... [Read Full Text]
i need some music plesse
Who is that one who said his a Nigerian an surportes these rubish that is going on in Zimbabwe. nigeria has had its time of coruption in the past and it has evolved and now weve taken a new step into democracy and it is paying off.you Zimbabweans still want to live like this, in that porverty striken nation mugabe had turned it into.Tell me is Zimbabwe mugabe´s fathers palace? Mugabe is desperate and you all are there surporting him.dont you think of your future generation?? your grand children... what kind of Zimbabwe do you want them to know? As... [Read Full Text]
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