ZIMBABWE must implement significant reforms agreed under the Global Political Agreement to ensure credible and legitimate elections can be held next year, a grouping of major western nations have said.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the grouping which calls itself the Friends of Zimbabwe and includes the United States, former colonial power, Britain, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the World Bank and the African Development Bank insisted that a free and fair election was critical to the country’s future.
“Credible and legitimate elections in line with Southern African Development Community (SADC) guidelines, that are free of violence and that accept the will of the people, are central to democratic transformation in Zimbabwe.
“To reach this point, the Zimbabwean government needs to create the enabling environment, and agree on and implement significant reforms as stipulated in the GPA. Zimbabweans should not face violence and intimidation to cast their votes,” the statement read which was released by the US State Department.
Zimbabwe is due to hold fresh elections next year to choose a substantive government but some political parties and civil society groups argue conditions are not yet in place to ensure the poll outcome is not contested.
The Western countries commended progress made by the coalition government but said more could be done with regard to rights issues.
“We commend the significant gains in macroeconomic stabilization and encourage the continuation of efforts aimed at strengthening economic recovery, the promotion of enhanced transparency and the implementation of structural and legal reforms, including the protection of property rights that will help attract foreign investment
“However, serious concerns remain relating to the protection of fundamental rights, the rule of law, governance and respect for agreements,” the statement added.
The countries called on the regional SADC grouping and South Africa to help ensure that Zimbabweans cast thier voices freely in next year's poll..
“We actively encourage regional actors, and SADC and South Africa in particular, to further assist Zimbabwe in ensuring the conditions for credible, legitimate and peaceful elections,” the statement read.
The group of 16 nations and the multilateral lenders said they would spend more than $500 million on various projects in the country in 2011.
“We intend to continue to provide our assistance taking into consideration the priorities of the inclusive government as reflected in the budget and in government sector policies,” the group said.