Zimbabwe’s opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said on Wednesday it will withdraw from all elections unless the Zanu-PF government abides by electoral protocols ratified by the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
”Until there are tangible signs that the Zimbabwe government is prepared to enforce SADC protocols on elections, the MDC national executive has today decided to suspend participation in all elections in all forms in Zimbabwe,” MDC spokesperson Paul Nyathi said.
The move comes ahead of by elections to be held next month and parliamentary polls set for March 2005.
Nyathi said the MDC refuses to participate ”until a political and legal framework had been established”.
”There must be complete reform of the electoral framework, an end to political violence and the repeal of oppressive legislation,” Nyathi told reporters in Harare.
He said the government has to repeal both Zimbabwe’s Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Public Order and Security Act before elections can take place.
South African President Thabo Mbeki told SADC delegates at a meeting in Mauritius last week that nations that do not comply with electoral standards risk being kicked out of the Southern African body.
Meanwhile, the opposition said it has also withdrawn from the Harare City Council, despite its control of most city councils in the country.
”Furthermore, we reserve the right to withdraw from other councils in the future,” said Nyathi.
The party’s withdrawal from the city council leaves the capital without an elected governing body.
Zimbabwe’s local government minister and Zanu-PF strongman Ignatius Chombo has already dismissed 19 MDC city councillors in Harare, leading to allegations of harassment of the opposition. — Sapa