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Zimbabwe's election needs 'a miracle', says Cosatu
Cape Times (SA)
February 25, 2005

"Cosmetic steps taken to pull the wool over SADC's eyes"

Pretoria - It would take a miracle to save the credibility of the general election to be held in Zimbabwe next month, Cosatu secretary-general Zwelinzima Vavi said yesterday. "I honestly don't see how you can hold free and fair elections under these conditions in Zimbabwe," he told delegates attending the third Zimbabwe Solidarity Conference here. Vavi said to level the playing field between the ruling Zanu-PF and the opposition, draconian legislation such as the Public Order and Security Act and the Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act needed to be amended or scrapped. It was of concern that there was no talk five weeks before the election about this, he said, questioning how free and fair elections could be held when these laws, which gave the police and military such extensive powers, still existed. What was needed, he said, was the appointment of a proper Electoral Commission that abided by the Southern African Development Community's protocols, and not the "cosmetic steps" taken by the Zimbabwe government to "pull the wool over SADC's eyes". In addition, the chaotic voter's roll needed to be sorted out and all interested parties should be given free access to it.

Cosatu, he pointed out, had earlier said SADC observers should visit Zimbabwe at least three months before the ballot to ensure the conditions on the ground were conducive to free and fair elections. With only five weeks to go before Zimbabweans go to the polls, no SADC observers had visited Zimbabwe and were still waiting for an invitation to do so. Vavi also questioned how the populace could be expected to vote when 37 constituencies were still under dispute following the 2000 general election. Because of the present situation under the existing legislation Vavi said he knew "exactly who" was going to win the vote. There had to be an acceptance and recognition that the crisis would still exist after the elections. Beyond March 31 Zimbabweans would either leave the country in droves or resort to violence. "We all have a responsibility to realise that possibility. We must get more voices to say Zimbabwe must be saved before the elections and after March 31." The Zimbabwe government, he said, needed to abide by the rule of law, take responsibility for its action, resume dialogue and end all actions and prohibitions against trade unionists. Cosatu would be picketing outside the Zimbabwe High Commission in Pretoria on March 9. This picket would be preceded by a march to present a memorandum of demands. On March 16 Cosatu would march to Beit Bridge border post, and hold a candlelight vigil on the night of March 30 and 31, he said.

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