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Sir Richard Branson comments on Zimbabwe elections
08 Aug 2013 at 09:13hrs | Views
The founder and chairman of Virgin Group of more than 400 companies, Sir Richard Charles Nicholas Branson alleges that Zimbabwe elections were severely rigged.
In his blog, Branson wrote: "The Zimbabwe elections seem to have been so severely rigged that it's hard to imagine the result will be accepted. All of us who can must keep the pressure on for free and fair elections.
"Robert Mugabe was declared the winner of the elections and his Zanu-PF party have claimed a two-thirds majority in parliament. However, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) believe voting was rigged. Everything from registration to duplicate voters, intimidation to extra ballot papers, rejected voters to media bias has been called into question.
"The Democratic Party (South Africa) have refused to sign the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum Mission's majority report on the Zimbabwe elections, because they do not agree that the elections were free and fair. Masizole Mnqasela MP called the vote "fraudulent and stolen".
"There has been widespread condemnation of this unfair election - and the need for everyone to be vigilant to stop more rigged elections. The Washington Post summed it up well: "The ultimate goal of democracy is to build a vibrant civil society that connects the rulers and the ruled. It starts with respect at the ballot box."
"A friend talking about Robert Mugabe quoted Oscar Wilde: "Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go."
In his blog, Branson wrote: "The Zimbabwe elections seem to have been so severely rigged that it's hard to imagine the result will be accepted. All of us who can must keep the pressure on for free and fair elections.
"Robert Mugabe was declared the winner of the elections and his Zanu-PF party have claimed a two-thirds majority in parliament. However, the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) believe voting was rigged. Everything from registration to duplicate voters, intimidation to extra ballot papers, rejected voters to media bias has been called into question.
"There has been widespread condemnation of this unfair election - and the need for everyone to be vigilant to stop more rigged elections. The Washington Post summed it up well: "The ultimate goal of democracy is to build a vibrant civil society that connects the rulers and the ruled. It starts with respect at the ballot box."
"A friend talking about Robert Mugabe quoted Oscar Wilde: "Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go."
Source - Byo24News
