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Harare Bureau
THE chairperson of the Sadc Organ for Politics, Defence and Security and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, has congratulated President Mugabe on his re-election, while African diplomats accredited to Zimbabwe have commended the conduct of last week’s harmonised elections and slammed the West for their insincere condemnation.
In his message, President Kikwete said President Mugabe’s re-election was an indication of the confidence Zimbabweans had in his leadership.
“I have received with great pleasure, the news of your re-election for another term to lead the people of Zimbabwe. On behalf of the government and people of the United Republic of Tanzania and indeed on my own behalf, I would like to congratulate Your Excellency for this resounding victory.
“Indeed your re-election is a clear testimony of the confidence and trust the people of Zimbabwe bestowed upon you. Under your able leadership, Zimbabwe has recorded tremendous socio-economic developments, despite some challenges.
“Thus we look forward for greater progress and prosperity for the people of Zimbabwe as well as your continued invaluable contribution to our region and the continent through Sadc and the AU,” he said.
President Kikwete said his country and Zimbabwe enjoy excellent relations found on shared political, economic and social values.
“As we celebrate your re-election, I wish to reiterate my desire as well as that of the government and the people of the United Republic of Tanzania to further strengthen the cordial relations that so happily exist between the Governments and peoples of our two countries by exploring more opportunities of cooperation for the mutual benefit of our two countries and peoples,” Mr Kikwete said.
In an interview yesterday, the dean of Africa Diplomatic Corps and Democratic Republic of Congo ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Mwanananga Mwanapanga said the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission had exhibited unparalleled professionalism.
“The elections were free and fair and everybody knows that. I have been here since 2001 and witnessed elections in 2002, 2005 and 2008 but this last election was the best that Zec has organised in this country and everybody knows it.
“They (Western countries) know that the elections were conducted in a professional manner, it was free and fair but they just don’t want to accept it,” said Ambassador Mwanapanga.
President Mugabe and Zanu-PF romped to a resounding victory with the revolutionary party winning 160 seats in the National Assembly while the President got 61,09 percent of the votes as compared to 33,94 percent his nearest challenger, MDC-T’s Morgan Tsvangirai received.
Observers from Sadc, the AU and Comesa have commended the conduct of the elections and urged all participants to accept the outcome.
The UN Secretary-General Mr Ban Ki-moon also commended Zimbabweans for holding a peaceful election and urged parties with disputes to seek legal recourse to resolve them.
Sadc facilitator and South African President Mr Jacob Zuma also sent his congratulatory message to President Mugabe on his victory while Kenyan leader Mr Uhuru Kenyatta also did the same.
Mr Zuma said the election results were reflective of the will of Zimbabweans and urged all parties to accept them.
Only the MDC-T and their Western allies that were not invited to observe the elections have rejected the outcome of the polls.
Ambassador Mwanapanga criticised the West for ignoring reports by various African observer groups and relying on statements produced by a non-governmental organisations they fund.
“They are using the Zimbabwe Elections Support Network which they give money to say what they want them to say,” he said.
Ambassador Mwanapanga said it was now important for all the political players to move forward.
“It is now important that the country moves forward. There were no winners or losers in the elections, the winner was all Zimbabweans. Zanu-PF should now forget whatever problems there were and bring everybody on board,” he said.
He said it was important for Sadc and the AU to convince the West on the credibility of the polls.
“Sadc and the AU should tell the West to understand that this election was monitored by the AU, Sadc, Comesa and the ACP nations who all certified that the elections were free and fair. What they need to understand is that in this election there were no winners or losers so that we can all move forward for the good of all Zimbabweans, the Sadc region, the AU and the whole world,” he said.
“Trying to fight what is so clear and clean will be a waste of energy and resources. They should just swallow their pride and lift the sanctions. They should not keep burying their heads in the sand because sanctions have not helped anyone, they have not helped Zimbabweans and they have not helped them,” said Ambassador Mwanapanga.
Online Reporter