|
Back to Index
This article participates on the following special index pages:
2008 harmonised elections - Index of articles
Leaders
sign Zim polls petition
News24
June
13, 2008
http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/Zimbabwe/0,,2-11-1662_2339990,00.html
London - Forty African
leaders, including Kofi Annan and Desmond Tutu, said it was "crucial"
that the presidential run-off election in Zimbabwe was seen as "free
and fair", in an open letter published on Friday.
"It is crucial for
the interests of both Zimbabwe and Africa that the upcoming elections
are free and fair," the letter, signed by former heads of state,
business leaders, academics and diplomats, read.
"Zimbabweans fought
for liberation in order to be able to determine their own future."
The signatories included
former United Nations secretary-general Annan and his predecessor
Boutros Boutros-Ghali, Nobel Prize winner Wangari Maathai, Archbishops
Tutu and John Sentamu, and 17 former African heads of state or government,
as well as several artists such as Angelique Kidjo.
Africans
'want to see peaceful Zim'
Zimbabwe's
opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was trying to topple veteran
President Robert Mugabe at a second round vote on June 27, after
officially falling short of an overall majority in the first round
of voting on March 29.
"Great sacrifices
were made during the liberation struggle. To live up to the aspirations
of those who sacrificed, it is vital that nothing is done to deny
the legitimate expression of the will of the people of Zimbabwe,"
the letter read.
"We are aware of
the attention of the world. More importantly, we are conscious of
the huge number of Africans who want to see a stable, democratic
and peaceful Zimbabwe.
"Consequently, we
are deeply troubled by the current reports of intimidation, harassment
and violence. It is vital that the appropriate conditions are created
so that the presidential run-off is conducted in a peaceful, free
and fair manner."
Violence
and intimidation
According
to the signatories, it would only be then that the country's political
parties could campaign "in a way that enables the citizens
to express freely their political will".
"In this context,
we call for an end to the violence and intimidation, and the restoration
of full access for humanitarian and aid agencies," they wrote.
The letter continued
on to insist it would be necessary for an "adequate number
of independent election observers, both during the election process
and to verify the results".
"Whatever the outcome
of the election, it will be vital for all Zimbabweans to come together
in a spirit of reconciliation to secure Zimbabwe's future,"
the signatories wrote, calling on African leaders and institutions
to "ensure the achievement of these objectives".
The letter can
be seen online, and signed by individual citizens and civil society
groups at http://www.zimbabwe-27june.com.
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
TOP
|
