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Zimbabwe

SADC calls for elections to be postponed

Article published on the 2008-06-25 Latest update 2008-06-25 16:33 TU

Morgan Tsvangirai addresses a press conference 25 June 2008(Photo: Reuters)

Morgan Tsvangirai addresses a press conference 25 June 2008
(Photo: Reuters)

Following an emergency meeting about Zimbabwe’s electoral crisis, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) called for the presidential run-off set for Friday to be postponed. "The political situation appears not to be permissive for holding the run-off elections in a manner that will be free and fair," said Tomaz Augusto Salomao, head of the 14-member SADC.

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"Holding the elections under the current environment undermines the credibility and legitimacy of the outcome," said Salomao after the meeting, which was held in Swaziland. "The parties and the people of Zimbabwe deserve a cooling-off period."

The SADC has been criticised for its lack of action over Zimbabwe.

Earlier, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai called for armed peacekeepers to come to Zimbabwe. "I didn't ask for any military intervention, but for armed peacekeepers," he told reporters at a press conference at his home.

Tsvangirai had briefly left the Dutch embassy, where he has taken refuge. He said the United Nations had to do more than verbally condemn president Robert Mugabe, and called for "a force to protect the people."

Tsvangirai and his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) pulled out of the run-off election on Sunday, saying government backed violence posed too much risk to his supporters.

The MDC claims that its supporters have been killed since Tsvangirai beat Mugabe in the first round.

In Wednesday’s press conference Tsvangirai defended his decision: “Our decision to pull out of this sham election was in the best interest of the people of Zimbabwe,” he said. “Any election conducted arrogantly, unilaterally… will not be recognised by the MDC, by Zimbabweans and by the world over.”

France on Wednesday joined other countries in denouncing the 27 June run-off: “we will not recognise the legitimacy of the power coming out of the rigged elections on June 27,” said Pascale Andreani, spokesperson for the Foreign Affairs ministry. 

On Tuesday Mugabe vowed that the election will go on. "Other people can say what they want, but the elections are ours and we are a sovereign state," he told a rally. He said his opponent pulled out because he was afraid of losing.