‘Opposition should learn from SA’

Fungi Kwaramba recently in PRETORIA, South Africa

ZIMBABWE is a stickler to democratic tenets and practices just like South Africa, but differences arise with the opposition in Harare, which does not accept election results if they do not go their way, Ambassador to South Africa, David Hamadziripi, has said.

In an interview with South African media on the sidelines of the swearing-in of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria yesterday, Ambassador Hamadziripi said Zimbabwe is proud of the way it has held its elections, sticking to SADC guidelines and principles.

“In Zimbabwe, we do have elections that are held according to the laws, regulations and practices of our country, and indeed according to the practices that we have signed to under the SADC election observer convention.

“But you do have a different political experience and a very different opposition in terms of how they relate to the management, governance, and the growth of democracy in the country,” he said.

“We are quite proud of the way we have conducted our elections. Yes, election observer missions are there to make their observations, but ultimately we have to hold elections according to our laws and our Constitution.

“We believe that we do meet those standards.”

At least 18 Heads of State and former leaders of various countries attended the swearing-in of President Ramaphosa, who is now leading a Government of National Unity, that comprises his party, the ANC, Democratic Alliance, Inkatha Freedom Party, Patriotic Alliance and other smaller parties.

Ambassador Hamadziripi said Zimbabwe is impressed by the way South Africans were able to find each other in the aftermath of the inconclusive plebiscite where the ANC failed, for the first since the country’s independence in 1994, to get a 50 percent plus Parliamentary majority.

“We were very much impressed by the way the election was organised. We were also part of the SADC observer group and the African Union observer group. I had the privilege of visiting a few polling stations on that day. It was beautiful, it was quiet, it was very peaceful, and everybody went about their business nicely,” he said.

Ambassador Hamadziripi expressed confidence that the coalition government would work in promoting regional integration and cooperation.