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Conference to find way forward for Zimbabwe polls
Richard Mantu, BuaNews
October 05, 2004

http://allafrica.com/stories/200410050513.html

Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Aziz Pahad has urged Africans to use legitimate mechanisms to measure the democratic course the continent has undertaken.

Speaking during a conference on the Forthcoming Elections in Zimbabwe, yesterday, Mr Pahad said the challenge for Africans was the implementation of agreed programmes meant to put the continent on a democratic path.

Guided by the Constitutive Act, the African Union at a summit held in Durban in 2002, adopted the Declaration on the Principles Governing Democratic Elections in Africa.

In addition the Southern African Development Community (SADC) meeting in Mauritius, recently adopted Guidelines and Principles governing democratic elections.

"The biggest challenge we have to grapple with as a continent, is the implementation of our programmes to build a democratic Africa," Mr Pahad told members of Zimbabwe civil society, church groups and union leaders.

He said the AU member states adopted the programmes knowing that democratic elections was a basis of the authority of any representative government.

"Regular elections constitute a key element of the democratisation process and therefore, are essential ingredients for good governance, the rule of law, the maintenance and promotion of peace, security, stability and development," he said.

Turning to Zimbabwe, Mr Pahad told delegates that President Robert Mugabe had announced electoral reforms, which included the establishment of the Independent Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to ensure free and fair elections.

These also included the establishment of the Elections Appeal Court to hear electoral petitions, or complaints.

Some commentators have seen this as a step towards the right direction, as the 2000 Presidential Elections in that country were alleged to be ridden with fraud as opposition parties claimed that Mr Mugabe instituted repressive laws that inhibited his opponents to fully participate in the elections.

However, some delegates at the conference expressed scepticism against the reforms, with one saying "Zimbabwe has to create an environment of confidence and get rid of the fear because when people are frightened they can't fully participate in the electoral process".

Another delegate said the Electoral Commission was a sham as "the president as the player in the elections has the right to appoint a chairperson of the independent body."

"The president can also amend the Electoral Act without consultation during the election process, while civil society groups are barred from conducting voter education unless they are appointed by the commission," she said.

The conference will deliberate on other issues today, including on what steps to take to ensure Zimbabwe fully conducted free and fair elections that the international community will not denounce.

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