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Zimbabweans must learn from Ivory Coast: Tsvangirai
02 Sep 2011 at 06:40hrs | Views
Abidjan - Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai said on Thursday that his country must learn from Ivory Coast's post-election crisis where 3 000 people died following a disputed vote.
He made the comments to journalists after meeting with Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara in the West African nation.
"There is truly a lesson to learn in Zimbabwe from what happened in Ivory Coast," Tsvangirai said, emphasising struggles regarding "political transition".
He further offered "the solidarity of Zimbabwean people to the people of Ivory Coast because we have experienced the same difficulties".
Zimbabwe's longtime leader Robert Mugabe and Tsvangirai share power as president and prime minister in a tense unity government formed under a deal that followed a flawed 2008 vote which pushed the country into crisis.
The pair have disagreed on a date for new polls, with Mugabe insisting on this year while Tsvangirai wants reforms first.
November elections in Ivory Coast led to a five-month standoff and two weeks of full-out war sparked by Laurent Gbagbo's refusal to concede to Alassane Ouattara.
He made the comments to journalists after meeting with Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara in the West African nation.
"There is truly a lesson to learn in Zimbabwe from what happened in Ivory Coast," Tsvangirai said, emphasising struggles regarding "political transition".
Zimbabwe's longtime leader Robert Mugabe and Tsvangirai share power as president and prime minister in a tense unity government formed under a deal that followed a flawed 2008 vote which pushed the country into crisis.
The pair have disagreed on a date for new polls, with Mugabe insisting on this year while Tsvangirai wants reforms first.
November elections in Ivory Coast led to a five-month standoff and two weeks of full-out war sparked by Laurent Gbagbo's refusal to concede to Alassane Ouattara.
Source - Sapa-AFP
