News / Africa
Mbeki condemns those who refuse to endorse Zim polls
29 Aug 2013 at 20:22hrs | Views
Former South Africa President Thabo Mbeki has condemned the stand of the west leaders for refusing to endorse the Zimbabwean polls when Africa has done so.
Mbeki, at the African Leadership Institute presentation at University of Pretoria, said such actions were tantamount to undermining the integrity of Africa.
President Robert Mugabe won the July 31 presidential election by 61 per cent votes.
But his rival Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai challenged the poll outcome, citing irregularities.
Tsvangirai later filed a constitutional court application challenging Mugabe's victory, but withdrew the petition, arguing that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission had denied him access to the poll material which he wanted to support his case.
"Yes, indeed there were problems, but we did not need Washington, Brussels and London to say Africans were wrong in endorsing the elections.
"I know why the special interest in Zimbabwe, a small country by any standards. Zimbabwe has been on the frontline in calling for Africa to determine its future.
"Its high time Zimbabwe should be supported in order to put an end to that African contempt," Mbeki said.
It would be recalled that Mbeki helped broker a power sharing agreement between the MDC and Zanu-PF following a disputed election in 2008.
Meanwhile, former president took a swipe at chaotic land reform programme.
He said the Zanu-PF leader had "set a bad example which we don't want any country in Africa to follow".
"The way the land reform was done offended other players in the world. I told them, they could not listen; they did what they wanted with their own country.
"They set a bad example which we don't want any country in Africa to follow. So they must pay a price. I think this is the reason why apart from diamonds, there is too much attention on Zimbabwe." he said.
EU has called for independent investigation on the Zimbabwe election before the body can accept the result.
Mbeki, at the African Leadership Institute presentation at University of Pretoria, said such actions were tantamount to undermining the integrity of Africa.
President Robert Mugabe won the July 31 presidential election by 61 per cent votes.
But his rival Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai challenged the poll outcome, citing irregularities.
Tsvangirai later filed a constitutional court application challenging Mugabe's victory, but withdrew the petition, arguing that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission had denied him access to the poll material which he wanted to support his case.
"Yes, indeed there were problems, but we did not need Washington, Brussels and London to say Africans were wrong in endorsing the elections.
"I know why the special interest in Zimbabwe, a small country by any standards. Zimbabwe has been on the frontline in calling for Africa to determine its future.
"Its high time Zimbabwe should be supported in order to put an end to that African contempt," Mbeki said.
It would be recalled that Mbeki helped broker a power sharing agreement between the MDC and Zanu-PF following a disputed election in 2008.
Meanwhile, former president took a swipe at chaotic land reform programme.
He said the Zanu-PF leader had "set a bad example which we don't want any country in Africa to follow".
"The way the land reform was done offended other players in the world. I told them, they could not listen; they did what they wanted with their own country.
"They set a bad example which we don't want any country in Africa to follow. So they must pay a price. I think this is the reason why apart from diamonds, there is too much attention on Zimbabwe." he said.
EU has called for independent investigation on the Zimbabwe election before the body can accept the result.
Source - NAN
