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Mugabe's Zanu-PF congratulates ANC
10 May 2014 at 06:35hrs | Views
THE ruling party Zanu-PF, has congratulated South Africa's African National Congress (ANC) and President elect Jacob Zuma, for a resounding victory in the May 7, general elections.
ANC's victory, Zanu-PF said, would result in the strengthening of bilateral relations between Pretoria and Harare for the success of Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset) and empowerment of the people.
With about 96 percent of the results counted late yesterday, the ANC had 62 percent of the vote, followed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) on 22 percent while the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party was third at 6 percent.
The electoral commission said voting passed off peacefully in most areas, with turnout at just over 73 percent. Full results will be declared today.
Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said the party was excited about the ANC's victory which he said had been anticipated.
"As Zanu-PF, we're very happy with the outcome of the results. We're happy that South Africans have voted wisely for a party with a legacy. ANC is a revolutionary party just like Zanu-PF and we're happy," he said.
On South Africa's decision to limit the number of foreign observers in the poll, a similar stand taken by Zimbabwe in the 2013 harmonised elections, Gumbo said Zimbabwe had been vindicated.
In 2013, Western countries and some sections of the media complained about Zimbabwe's decision to maintain a limit on the number of foreign observers to its polls.
South Africa told embassies that only their ambassadors could observe the polls.
"As a country, we've been vindicated by their move since it means that we share the same values and principles. If it was Zimbabwe, there was going to be a lot of noise, condemnation and victimisation from the West. We've always said that as a sovereign State, we should not be told what to do especially by our detractors. We're also happy that African leaders and South Africa's friends are attending the President's inauguration," said Gumbo.
He said the two countries were going to collaborate in a number of socio-economic programmes for the benefits of their citizens adding that he was also happy that the elections were free and fair.
Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa said the re-election of ANC and President elect Jacob Zuma created a vibrant opportunity for South Africa-Zimbabwe co-operation in business and the success of Zim Asset.
He said as the second biggest economy in Africa, South Africa under the administration of the ANC and President Zuma, was going to assist Zimbabwe get foreign direct investment.
"South Africa is the main conduit in foreign direct investment into Zimbabwe and we know that ANC and President elect Zuma will be pre-occupied with the economic recovery of Zimbabwe. Remember during his first administration, he was pre-occupied with assisting Zimbabwe fight off post-imperial forces," he said.
Ambassador Mutsvangwa added: "We look forward in seeing the Minister of Finance, Patrick Chinamasa, leading a business delegation to South Africa once the new administration is in place to promote Zim Asset and foreign direct investments."
He said the ANC, as a result of its people-oriented policies, had triumphed in the election just the same manner Zanu-PF massacred MDC-T in the 2013 harmonised elections.
"Zanu-PF and ANC share the same values. So a victory for ANC is a victory for Zanu-PF. They're all revolutionary parties and their success in elections is for the common good of Sadc and Africa as a whole," said Ambassador Mutsvangwa.
Political analyst Dr Charity Manyeruke of the University of Zimbabwe said the retaining of ANC was good for Pretoria and Harare relations.
"Since South Africa is an important ally of Zimbabwe, it means no change in the ways the two countries have been relating over the years," she said.
Dr Manyeruke, however, said the issue of migration of Zimbabweans into South Africa should be addressed by the two countries as soon as possible.
Another political commentator from the Faculty of Communication and Information Science at National University of Science and Technology (Nust), Dr Lawton Hikwa, said it was given that ANC would triumph in the general elections.
He said over the past 20 years, ANC has been winning in elections, just like the ruling Zanu-PF, because of the pro-poor policies that are aimed at empowering the people. "Being a revolutionary party it has a symbiotic relationship with Zanu-PF and we will see more bilateral engagements because the two have common interests," said Dr Hikwa.
The African Union election observer mission declared South Africa's 5th democratic election as free and fair.
ANC's victory, Zanu-PF said, would result in the strengthening of bilateral relations between Pretoria and Harare for the success of Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset) and empowerment of the people.
With about 96 percent of the results counted late yesterday, the ANC had 62 percent of the vote, followed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) on 22 percent while the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party was third at 6 percent.
The electoral commission said voting passed off peacefully in most areas, with turnout at just over 73 percent. Full results will be declared today.
Zanu-PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo said the party was excited about the ANC's victory which he said had been anticipated.
"As Zanu-PF, we're very happy with the outcome of the results. We're happy that South Africans have voted wisely for a party with a legacy. ANC is a revolutionary party just like Zanu-PF and we're happy," he said.
On South Africa's decision to limit the number of foreign observers in the poll, a similar stand taken by Zimbabwe in the 2013 harmonised elections, Gumbo said Zimbabwe had been vindicated.
In 2013, Western countries and some sections of the media complained about Zimbabwe's decision to maintain a limit on the number of foreign observers to its polls.
South Africa told embassies that only their ambassadors could observe the polls.
"As a country, we've been vindicated by their move since it means that we share the same values and principles. If it was Zimbabwe, there was going to be a lot of noise, condemnation and victimisation from the West. We've always said that as a sovereign State, we should not be told what to do especially by our detractors. We're also happy that African leaders and South Africa's friends are attending the President's inauguration," said Gumbo.
He said the two countries were going to collaborate in a number of socio-economic programmes for the benefits of their citizens adding that he was also happy that the elections were free and fair.
Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa said the re-election of ANC and President elect Jacob Zuma created a vibrant opportunity for South Africa-Zimbabwe co-operation in business and the success of Zim Asset.
He said as the second biggest economy in Africa, South Africa under the administration of the ANC and President Zuma, was going to assist Zimbabwe get foreign direct investment.
"South Africa is the main conduit in foreign direct investment into Zimbabwe and we know that ANC and President elect Zuma will be pre-occupied with the economic recovery of Zimbabwe. Remember during his first administration, he was pre-occupied with assisting Zimbabwe fight off post-imperial forces," he said.
Ambassador Mutsvangwa added: "We look forward in seeing the Minister of Finance, Patrick Chinamasa, leading a business delegation to South Africa once the new administration is in place to promote Zim Asset and foreign direct investments."
He said the ANC, as a result of its people-oriented policies, had triumphed in the election just the same manner Zanu-PF massacred MDC-T in the 2013 harmonised elections.
"Zanu-PF and ANC share the same values. So a victory for ANC is a victory for Zanu-PF. They're all revolutionary parties and their success in elections is for the common good of Sadc and Africa as a whole," said Ambassador Mutsvangwa.
Political analyst Dr Charity Manyeruke of the University of Zimbabwe said the retaining of ANC was good for Pretoria and Harare relations.
"Since South Africa is an important ally of Zimbabwe, it means no change in the ways the two countries have been relating over the years," she said.
Dr Manyeruke, however, said the issue of migration of Zimbabweans into South Africa should be addressed by the two countries as soon as possible.
Another political commentator from the Faculty of Communication and Information Science at National University of Science and Technology (Nust), Dr Lawton Hikwa, said it was given that ANC would triumph in the general elections.
He said over the past 20 years, ANC has been winning in elections, just like the ruling Zanu-PF, because of the pro-poor policies that are aimed at empowering the people. "Being a revolutionary party it has a symbiotic relationship with Zanu-PF and we will see more bilateral engagements because the two have common interests," said Dr Hikwa.
The African Union election observer mission declared South Africa's 5th democratic election as free and fair.
Source - chronicle
