/ 12 March 2008

SA believes Zim elections can be free and fair

South Africa believes conditions for a free and fair election in Zimbabwe exist — at least on paper, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Aziz Pahad said on Wednesday.

Speaking to reporters at the Union Buildings, Pahad said the next 17 days in the run-up to the Zimbabwean presidential and parliamentary elections would be telling.

”We will watch very seriously the next 17 days and hope that nothing will undermine the processes to prevent people to campaign freely, to mobilise freely and to prevent them from using the media,” said Pahad.

He urged those with complaints to take these up with the Independent Electoral Commission and with the various observer missions in the country.

South Africa will send 54 observers to Zimbabwe, of which 15 would be MPs.

The full South African team will arrive in Zimbabwe on March 20 and will function as part of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) observer team in the country.

Pahad said the South African contingent will consist of government officials and the multiparty members of Parliament.

Their observations will be included in the SADC final decision and report on the Zimbabwe elections. — Sapa