SADC under pressure on Zimbabwe electoral reforms

SADC under pressure on Zimbabwe electoral reforms

NYATHI

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By Agencies

THE meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders this week should be used to push for the establishment of a fair electoral system in Zimbabwe, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said on Sunday.

It said in a statement released in Johannesburg that the SADC summit should be seen as an opportunity to deepen democracy across the region by establishing consensus on guidelines on holding democratic elections.

MDC secretary for information and publicity, Paul Themba Nyathi, said there were concerns that not all SADC members, particularly Zimbabwe, agreed with the vision for improved democratic governance in the region.

"Within this context, SADC leaders need to be cognisant of the severe shortcomings of the electoral reforms recently tabled by the Zimbabwe government; reforms which President (Robert) Mugabe disingenuously claims will level the playing field for elections," Nyathi said.

SADC leaders should advise Mugabe that his reforms were inadequate and out of step with regional electoral standards.

"SADC leaders should seek to ensure that President Mugabe departs the summit with the clear message that unless he implements comprehensive political and electoral reforms, that are capable of harnessing acceptable levels of transparency and fairness in Zimbabwe's electoral process, the SADC will not entertain his claims that next year's parliamentary elections will be free and fair."
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