MDC urges SADC to pressure Mugabe to introduce reforms

By Tichaona Sibanda
4 April 2007

The MDC said on Wednesday the Southern African Development Community should ratchet up pressure on Robert Mugabe to allow free and fair elections in Zimbabwe next year.

For the first time ever the SADC bloc was able to convene a special meeting to discuss the deteriorating situation in the country, which has been hailed as significant by political analysts. Now the MDC wants the SADC leaders to push for more to resolve the crisis.

Roy Bennett, the party’s spokesman in Johannesburg, South Africa said contrary to views held by Zanu (PF), his party was not being difficult in demanding the repealing of laws like AIPPA and POSA before elections can be held. He said SADC norms on elections stipulate that free and fair elections mean not only an independent electoral commission, but also freedom of assembly, absence of physical harassment by the police or any other entity.

‘It also calls for freedom of the press, equal access to national radio and television and external and credible observation of the whole electoral process. But what we have now are political killings, beatings and violence against the opposition. Which country in SADC today can have elections in this state apart from Zimbabwe?’ asked Bennett.

He said the MDC is not demanding, but asking for a process that ensures free and fair elections in Zimbabwe. He said the laws were set by SADC and, as a member state, Robert Mugabe should ensure Zimbabwe adheres to the laid out principles in the conduct of free and fair elections.

SADC principles in the conduct of democratic elections call for the full participation of the citizens in the political process, freedom of association, political tolerance and equal opportunity for all political parties to access the state media.

‘What we are saying is let’s go to an election with a new people driven constitution that will also allow Zimbabweans living outside to have a say in their country’s political process. So these are not MDC but SADC rules,’ said Bennett.

Bennett said Mbeki who has already acknowledged the need to speed up the facilitation process in order to ensure free and fair elections next year is believed to be worried that any signs of electoral fraud will ignite a civil strife that will have serious repercussions in his country.

‘South Africa is hosting the 2010 World cup and any problems from next year’s elections will spill over to that country and jeopardise the football tournament. The fact that Mbeki on Monday said the situation in Zimbabwe is a matter that all people should approach with great seriousness is also a signal that he doesn’t want to fail this time,’ said Bennett.

A two-man delegation from the South African government met with opposition leaders from Zimbabwe two weeks ago before Mbeki held discussions with Mugabe on the sidelines of the SADC extra-ordinary meeting in Dar es Salaam.