Ramaphosa defends Zimbabwe's elections?

SOUTH African President Cyril Ramaphosa has defended the just ended Zimbabwe's harmonised elections, saying all countries in the world face certain hiccups in the holding of their polls but it was all about getting lessons and recommendations from observers so as to incorporate them in future.

President Mnangagwa and the ruling Zanu-PF party, romped to victory in the elections and various world leaders have been sending congratulations to Harare on the holding of the peaceful, free and fair elections.

The SA leader was one of the first to congratulate President Mnangagwa for the successful holding of the harmonised elections in a peaceful manner despite the adverse impact of sanctions on the economy.

Speaking during an interface with the media in South Africa yesterday, President Ramaphosa once again came to the defence of Zimbabwe, noting that even countries such as the United States of America, who claimed to be the masters of democracy also faced certain problems during their electoral process.

"There is no perfect election I can tell you that. There is contestation among parties, among candidates and it often results in disputes, in doubts and certain practices not having been adhered to. It happens all over the world. Just look at what happened in America in their last election, those that claim they are the best in the world in terms of democracy, it also happens to them.

So let us not harshly judge the outcome of elections on our continent. The countries that go through these elections often say they listened very carefully to observers and they pick up a lot of lessons and a lot of experience, recommendations and advice, similarly that is what happens in the most recent elections in our continent that is in Zimbabwe," said President Ramaphosa.

Last week, African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula also added his voice to the stronghold the ruling Zanu-PF had on the ground hence the resounding victory. Speaking at a recent ANC national congress in the Western Cape, Mbalula also praised the Second Republic under the stewardship of President Mnangagwa for implementing reforms in the country, saying the West led by the United States of America are not satisfied because they want a puppet to rule Zimbabwe.

He said from the time of late former President Robert Mugabe, South Africa has maintained its stance against illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the West. Mbalula said after the coming in of the Second Republic following Operation Restore Legacy in 2017, the West has not changed its agenda on Zimbabwe.

Various world leaders have in the past week been congratulating President Mnangagwa on his resounding victory in the just ended elections and have committed on their continued support to the country.