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Zimbabwe's Elections 2013 - Index of Articles
The
world is watching Zimbabwe - Sadc
Feluna Nleya, NewsDay
July 16, 2013
http://www.newsday.co.zw/2013/07/16/the-world-is-watching-zimbabwe-sadc/
The Sadc organ
on politics yesterday said the world was watching developments in
the country ahead of the forthcoming
elections to be held on July 31.
Speaking at the launch
of the Sadc election observer mission in the country, the representative
of the chairperson of the organ on politics and diplomacy, Bernard
Membe, said Sadc expected the country to hold a free and fair election.
The organ is chaired
by Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete.
“The world is watching
you. It watched in March during the referendum and it is going to
be watching the people of Zimbabwe speaking, watching them making
their will which should be respected by everybody in Zimbabwe and
outside Zimbabwe,” Membe said.
“If these elections
will be conducted in a free and fair atmosphere, the Sadc team and
the region will accept the outcome of the polls because the people
would have spoken. They would have expressed their will and Sadc
will be left with no option, but to accept the outcome.”
Membe urged all interested
stakeholders, including Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, law enforcement
agents, presiding agents and party agents, to exercise restraint
to avoid frustrating the electorate.
“We must come together
to resolve our issues now, if there are problems. Let us try and
resolve our differences during this time as we go down to the 31st.
Let us sensitise people to use this time to raise concerns now before
the elections,” he said.
Sadc executive secretary
Tomaz Salamao said as the country gravitated towards the elections,
the challenge and responsibility to have peaceful, free, fair and
credible elections lay within the hands of the Zimbabwean people.
“The process must
assure voters and all stakeholders to honourably accept and respect
the people’s verdict,” said Salamao.
“As a region, we
are here to encourage the people of Zimbabwe settle the political
challenges that have beset the country in the recent past through
the ballot.”
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