Harare — International reaction to the controversial re-election of Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe to another six year term varied widely. African observers generally approved of his victory, while Western governments denounced it.
Observer missions from South Africa, Nigeria, Namibia and the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) respectively, described the poll as "legitimate" - largely satisfactory and transparent, credible, free and fair.
All three observer teams noted long queues and delays in chaotic voting.
The Namibians went as far as to say Zimbabwe's election system was "water tight, without room for rigging". The South African observer team blamed the long lines of voters unable to vote despite waiting many hours on "administrative oversights", a description that drew audible laughter from journalists and diplomats attending their press conference in the capital, Harare on Wednesday.
President Daniel arap Moi of Kenya congratulated Mugabe, calling his victory "testimony of the confidence and high esteem the people of Zimbabwe hold in you."
The observations of the 14-member Southern African Development Community (SADC) Parliamentary Forum team differed considerably from the other African missions. In sharp contrast to other African observer teams, the forum said the conduct of the elections fell short of regional expectations.
"The climate of insecurity obtaining in Zimbabwe since the 2000 parliamentary elections was such that the electoral process could not be said to adequately comply with the norms and standards for elections in the SADC region," the forum said in a statement.
That position chimed closely with views expressed by the main Zimbabwean monitoring group, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network which had 400 observers monitoring the poll and have been heavily critical.
The SADC parliamentarians' view was also echoed by the Norwegian observer delegation which said, on Tuesday, that the election failed to meet international standards. Norway Prime Minister Jan Petersen said in a statement that "The presidential election in Zimbabwe has not satisfied the fundamental requirements for a democratic election."
Mugabe's main challenger, Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change, has rejected the outcome of the presidential poll. He said the result was "illegitimate" and a clear case of "highway robbery" by Mugabe, his government and his party, Zanu-PF. Tsvangirai warned that his disenfranchised supporters were "seething" but implored them to stay calm.
The MDC leader said systematic cheating, spoiling tactics, rigid new laws and sheer obstruction - as well as political violence and intimidation - were just some of the irregularities practised by the authorities in the run-up to, and during the poll.
Mugabe was announced the winner with 56.1 percent of the vote, leaving Tsvangirai trailing behind with 42 percent. The government has rejected all criticism, describing the election as "exemplary, free, fair and peaceful."
Western governments disagree.
Western governments are lining up to condemn the Mugabe government, while the African bloc appears to have opted for solidarity in support of Mugabe.
Jack Straw, the foreign secretary of the former colonial power, Britain, which is locked in a verbal war with Mugabe, said the Zimbabwean head of state was bent on achieving "one goal, power at all costs. It is no surprise that this outcome has now been achieved."
U.S. President George Bush added his voice on Wednesday night, categorically rejecting Zimbabwe's presidential poll. "We do not recognize the outcome of the election because we think it's flawed. We are dealing with our friends to figure out how to deal with this flawed election."
Bush's secretary of state, Colin Powell, earlier concluded: "Mr Mugabe may claim victory, but not democratic legitimacy."
France and Germany also indicated that the election had failed the 'free and fair' test.
The Canadian prime minister, Jean Chretien, said the election "does not look very good".
Australia, which with South Africa and Nigeria has been mandated to report on the Zimbabwe presidential poll to the Commonwealth, was equally critical.
"If the people of Zimbabwe have a sense that they have been cheated through the election process, it is possible that some could resort to violence," said the foreign minister, Alexander Downer.
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The United Nations' secretary-general, Kofi Annan, appealed for calm after the poll and urged Zimbabweans to refrain from violence. Annan acknowledged that he was receiving conflicting reports about the conduct of the poll.
Facing perhaps a legal challenge from the opposition to his contested electoral victory, Mugabe is becoming increasingly isolated on the international stage. The European Union and the United States have already imposed 'smart', selected sanctions on Mugabe and 19 people in his inner circle.
But the Zimbabwean leader has been silent since his final campaign rally last Friday, though people are eagerly awaiting his victory speech. The president was nowhere to be seen in Harare as his supporters took over the downtown streets of the capital, loudly celebrating his victory.
Mugabe's allies and detractors may all hope that he is spending the time reviewing the tense situation in the country and working out how best to calm fears and concern and rally Zimbabweans together.
