/ 8 February 2008

US voices ‘serious concerns’ about Zim election

The United States expressed ”serious concerns” on Thursday about the March 29 general elections in Zimbabwe, a country it finds under constant repression from President Robert Mugabe’s regime.

”In terms of Zimbabwe, we have very serious concerns about the upcoming elections,” said State Department spokesperson Tom Casey.

”Certainly, the record of the Mugabe government and its continued repression of political opposition in that country doesn’t leave us with a lot of hope that these upcoming elections are going to be free and fair,” he added.

Mugabe (83) who has ruled the former British colony since independence in 1980, is hoping to secure a sixth term in office at joint parliamentary and presidential elections on March 29.

Casey strongly suggested the Zimbabwe polls could benefit from the presence of international observers.

”Certainly, we would want to see international observers there not only just a matter of general principle, but because there have been so many problems and concerns with the political system in Zimbabwe and with the actions of President Mugabe,” the spokesperson said.

Zimbabwe’s ruling Zanu-PF party cut former finance minister Simba Makoni adrift Wednesday over his electoral bid to topple Mugabe, saying he had ”expelled himself” by taking on the veteran president.

Makoni (57) announced his candidacy on Tuesday after the opposition Movement for Democratic Change was unable to get its two factions to agree on a candidate to take on the soon-to-be 84 Mugabe.

The upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in Zimbabwe will be held against a backdrop of economic disarray with an annual inflation rate of more than 26 000%, the highest in the world, and unemployment of around 80%. – Reuters