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MDC wants observers deployed to rural areas
Tichaona Sibanda, SW Radio Africa
March 12, 2008

http://www.swradioafrica.com/news120308/mdcobservers120308.htm

The MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai wants most regional and foreign observers coming for the elections to be deployed to all rural areas, usually the flash points of political violence in the country.

In the past observers have visited rural areas associated with the opposition parties, but have rarely set foot in the Zanu-PF strongholds of the three Mashonaland provinces.

Luke Tamborinyika, the director of information for the MDC, said from past experience observers from the SADC bloc have come to Zimbabwe to 'enjoy the sunshine and to rubber stamp rigged elections.' The regime has invited SADC and 46 other teams of monitors from regional groupings such as the African Union, plus countries such as China, Russia and Iran, with whom Mugabe enjoys relatively good relations.

'Already the SADC observer team has a predetermined opinion that elections would be free and fair before even talking to parties taking part in the polls. That is being naïve of the team because there is a lot of violence and intimidation against our supporters during this campaign period,' Tamborinyoka said.

On Wednesday, the head of the 14-nation SADC bloc expressed confidence that this month's general elections would be free and fair.

SADC secretary-general Tomaz Salomao, told a press conference that as they come to observe elections in Zimbabwe, they do so with 'confidence.' He said 'the tradition of peace encapsulated in the unquestionable political maturity and tolerance shall, once again guide Zimbabweans as they go to the polls.'

But Tamborinyoka pointed out that already SADC protocols on elections in the region had not been followed properly in terms of elections in the country. He noted observer groups from the region should have arrived in the country 30 days before the elections.

'They jetted in on Monday, which is 19 days before the elections. This was the advance team but still the full complement is still to arrive,' he said.

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