News / National
'No political will from Mugabe's Zanu-PF'
17 Mar 2013 at 09:46hrs | Views
Dr Morgan Tsvangirai on Saturday called for an urgent summit of southern African leaders to ensure upcoming elections are free and fair.
In a statement issued as Zimbabweans voted on a new constitution, Tsvangirai voiced his concern about alleged violence and intimidation by security forces.
Many Zimbabweans fear the vote, scheduled for July, could be marred by the kind of deadly violence seen in previous elections.
He called on leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) - which helped broker the creation of his unity government with President Robert Mugabe - to step in.
SADC "should use a full Summit to assess whether Zimbabwe was ready for free, fair and credible elections," he said in statement.
He added that there seemed to be "no political will" from Mugabe's Zanu-PF party to fully implement the peace deal brokered by the SADC.
Passing the constitution and holding elections are key pillars of that peace process.
But Tsvangirai said "some of the key reforms include security sector re-alignment and media reforms" had not been carried.
He also "expressed concern at the deployment of senior military officers ahead of the referendum and elections".
In a statement issued as Zimbabweans voted on a new constitution, Tsvangirai voiced his concern about alleged violence and intimidation by security forces.
Many Zimbabweans fear the vote, scheduled for July, could be marred by the kind of deadly violence seen in previous elections.
He called on leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) - which helped broker the creation of his unity government with President Robert Mugabe - to step in.
SADC "should use a full Summit to assess whether Zimbabwe was ready for free, fair and credible elections," he said in statement.
He added that there seemed to be "no political will" from Mugabe's Zanu-PF party to fully implement the peace deal brokered by the SADC.
Passing the constitution and holding elections are key pillars of that peace process.
But Tsvangirai said "some of the key reforms include security sector re-alignment and media reforms" had not been carried.
He also "expressed concern at the deployment of senior military officers ahead of the referendum and elections".
Source - AFP
