adminTendai Mugabe Senior Reporter
ZANU-PF yesterday welcomed the final Sadc report that reaffirmed the bloc’s of endorsement of the harmonised elections describing them as free, peaceful, generally credible and a reflection of the will of Zimbabweans.The MDC-T, however, cried foul taking exception to Sadc’s citing of the west’s illegal economic sanctions and pirate radio stations as impediments to fair elections.
Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Rugare Gumbo said the report was balanced.
“We are in total agreement with the Sadc report on the harmonised elections,” he said. “Its well-balanced and the endorsement of the polls also vindicates that the elections were conducted in a peaceful, free, fair and credible manner.
“We are happy with the report as it also urges Zimbabweans to unite and work together. It also stated that there was a need for the entire region to join hands in calling for the lifting of sanctions imposed on us by the West.”
Cde Gumbo commended Sadc for urging some neighbouring countries to desist from allowing pirate broadcasts on their territories.
“Sadc also recommended that pirate media should end their operations forthwith in Zimbabwe,” he said.
“This is a commendable move by Sadc as it also called on countries in the region not to allow their territories to be used as bases for pirate radio stations.”
The Studio 7 radio signal is boosted from a transmitter in Botswana while the pirate television station 1st TV broadcasts from South Africa.
Mr Tsvangirai said by noting the effects of the Western imposed illegal sanctions and the pirate radio stations on the elections, the regional bloc was being biased towards Zanu-PF.
Head of the Sadc Election Observer Mission to Zimbabwe Mr Bernard Membe delivered the final and comprehensive report on Monday where he described the July 31 polls as credible, peaceful and a true reflection of the will of the people of Zimbabwe.
Peeved by Sadc’s position, Mr Tsvangirai branded the report as a Zanu-PF narrative while speaking soon after he visited his party’s deputy national chairman Morgan Komichi who is in remand at Chikurubi Maximum Prison facing fraud charges and contravening sections of the Electoral Act.
Mr Tsvangirai queried the SEOM’s assessment of the elections, claiming that the polls failed to pass the credibility test.
He said he was disturbed that Sadc cited illegal sanctions and pirate radio stations in its report – issues that were also condemned by Zanu-PF as major impediments to a level playing field.
“I have been advised of the so-called Sadc final report,” he said.
“In Maputo (Mozambique), Sadc was clear that we should implement reforms we agreed before the polls. The report indicates a Zanu-PF narrative. How can you talk about sanctions and pirate radio stations?
“This is an endorsement of what they have already endorsed (in the Sadc preliminary report).”
In the run up to the July 31 harmonised elections, Mr Tsvangirai attacked African Union Commission chairperson Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, accusing her of being biased towards Zanu-PF and said he was aware of her history.
Soon after attacking Sadc while speaking at Chikurubi, Mr Tsvangirai made a surprise U-turn and said he could not avoid the regional body.
He said he would be visiting Sadc chairperson, Malawian President Dr Joyce Banda and Sadc Troika chairperson and Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba to tell them of the alleged electoral fraud by Zanu-PF.
Online Reporter