The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in Zimbabwe said on Sunday it was increasingly perplexed by claims by the South African government that the elections in Zimbabwe will be free and fair.
MDC secretary general Welshman Ncube said in a statement that the MDC did not understand the South African government’s ”ignorance” about the situation in Zimbabwe.
”At present it is clear to each and every objective observer that conditions for a free and fair election do not exist in Zimbabwe. There is therefore nothing whatsoever to suggest that the elections will be free and fair, or indeed legitimate,” Ncube said.
”The electoral environment is actually worse than it was during the March 2002 presidential elections.”
Contrary to the view propagated by the South African government, their counterparts in Harare are not taking any meaningful steps to ensure the elections will be free and fair, he said.
”The voters’ roll is in a shambles, violence and intimidation remain prevalent, equal access to the state media is a myth and the elections will be managed and run by the same biased electoral bodies which have manipulated the electoral process to the political advantage of the ruling party in previous elections.”
He said the much trumpeted new electoral commission had no direct role to play in the March 31 election.
”It was established far too late to have any meaningful influence on the process. More importantly, anything it does do is subject to the authority of the Mugabe-appointed Electoral Supervisory Commission. This compromises its independence.”
Meanwhile, South Africa’s Democratic Alliance said on Sunday that Zimbabwe was in breach of a Southern African Development Community (SADC) protocol by failing to invite the SADC Parliamentary Forum Observer Mission to view its election later this month.
”Zimbabwe cannot get away with a lie. It has misrepresented the SADC Parliamentary Forum as some sort of unofficial body merely falling under SADC,” said DA spokesperson Joe Seremane.
”Mugabe is punishing the SADC,” he said, adding that the ”South African Department of Foreign Affairs was aiding and abetting this piece of revenge”.
Seremane said ignoring the forum and pretending that it did not exist was a clear breach of the protocol.
”It is incorrect to pretend that the forum, consisting of MPs from all of the SADC countries was of no account.”
He said in a statement the protocol was accepted by all SADC countries, who enjoyed diplomatic immunity, including Zimbabwe.
He argued that the real reason why the forum was unwelcome in Zimbabwe was because it was one of the few missions which declared that country’s previous election not free and fair.
”The South African Foreign Affairs Department is well aware of the provisions of the protocol and should not connive with Zimbabwe in breaching it,” Seremane said.
”South Africa should be exerting pressure on Zimbabwe to comply by issuing a belated invitation and receiving the observer mission,” he said. – Sapa