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This article participates on the following special index pages:
2008 harmonised elections - Index of articles
IPU
presidential statement on Zimbabwe
Inter-Parliamentary
Union (SA)
April 18, 2008
We, the representatives
of 135 national parliaments meeting in Cape Town at the 118th Assembly
of the Inter-Parliamentary Union hereby declare:
We are deeply concerned
that almost three weeks after elections were held in Zimbabwe, results
have not been fully released. We call for their immediate publication.
Further delays can only be detrimental to the crumbling credibility
of the process and its results.
The people of Zimbabwe
have a right to determine their future through free and fair elections,
as enshrined in the universally accepted norms and standards, as
well as the continental (African Union) and SADC Principles and
Guidelines governing democratic elections.
We express our solidarity
with the efforts of the SADC Heads of State to resolve the electoral
stalemate in Zimbabwe. Should there be a need for a re-run of the
elections, we strongly urge the authorities of Zimbabwe to invite,
among others, continental and regional inter-parliamentary organisations,
notably the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and the SADC Parliamentary
Forum, as well as regional civil society election observer institutions
such as the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa (EISA). We further
urge that all observer missions be afforded unimpeded access to
the entire electoral process, as provided for in the regional electoral
norms, principles and guidelines.
In conclusion, we reiterate
our call to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to release all the
results of the election with immediate effect. We also call upon
the Zimbabwe authorities to lift all restrictions on freedom of
assembly and speech in Zimbabwe immediately. We urge that Parliament
be convened as soon as possible so that the people of Zimbabwe are
not deprived of their rightful voice in the government of their
country. In the meantime, we call on the Zimbabwe authorities to
exercise restraint and maintain peace. We encourage all parliaments,
as institutions of democracy and oversight, to continue to exert
their influence until this matter is resolved in its entirety.
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