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Concern
over Zim election
The Zimbabwe
Independent
By
Iden Wetherell in Sydney, Australia
February 25, 2005
http://www.theindependent.co.zw/news/2005/February/Friday25/1764.html
AUSTRALIAN Foreign
minister Alexander Downer said on Wednesday he was very concerned
that Zimbabwe’s forthcoming election would not be free or fair given
the "well-documented harassment of journalists" and intimidation
of the opposition.
"The media
is restricted and has very little capacity to report public debate,"
Downer said. "The opposition is disadvantaged. If the last
election is any guide, the whole process of voting, the intimidation
to stop people voting for opposition parties will all be repeated,"
he said when opening the Commonwealth Press Union’s biennial conference
in Sydney.
He said the
election however provided an opportunity for Zimbabwe to break free
of the patterns of the past and restore democracy.
"The Commonwealth,
including Australia, helped bring about the modern Zimbabwe out
of UDI and all of that into a non-discriminatory and democratic
era," Downer said.
"It slipped
out of that paradigm and this is an opportunity to help it get back
into it."
Downer referred
to the "substantial confrontation" his government had
with Zimbabwe in 2003.
"The Zimbabwe
issue was a great test," he said. "Would the Commonwealth
adhere to its core values or just form a loose federation of former
British colonies?
"In a moment
of pique (President Robert) Mugabe resigned. It was the right thing
to do if you can’t adhere to core values of democracy and civil
liberties."
Downer said
he would continue to raise the Zimbabwe issue in bilateral contacts
with his southern African counterparts despite Harare’s departure
from the Commonwealth.
He expressed
concern about imprisoned Movement for Democratic Change MP Roy Bennett
and said Australia had not forgotten him.
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