Sadc must show its teeth, says Tsvangirai

Sadc must show its teeth, says Tsvangirai

TSVANGIRAI

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By Staff Reporter

ZIMBABWE’S opposition leader urged southern African countries on Saturday to force the government to reform its election laws so his party can contest parliamentary polls next March.

Having vowed last month to boycott elections until the government meets regional election standards, ends political violence and repeals repressive media and security laws, Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai said fair elections were key to ending President Robert Mugabe's 24-year grip on power.

Tsvangirai spoke as the MDC celebrated its fifth anniversary. He said the 14 member countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC), were obliged hold Zimbabwe to election protocols signed by Mugabe in August.

"SADC must prove it has teeth. SADC must push Mugabe to honor his word, and to do so early enough for us to have our elections in March," Tsvangirai told some 15 000 supporters during Saturday celebrations marking the fifth anniversary of the opposition party's founding.

Since signing the protocols at the SADC summit in Mauritius, the government has announced a series of planned electoral reforms, but the opposition says they don't go far enough to conform to the regional standards.

Tsvangirai said Mugabe put the sincerity of regional leaders to a crucial test.

Without forcing the holding of free elections in Zimbabwe, other countries - including South Africa - risked losing international support for political and economic advancement.

"The entire region is waiting for the regime in Zimbabwe to start moving in the right direction for the benefit of all," Tsvangirai said.

The government says it will form an independent commission to organize elections previously run by state officials.

The opposition protested, saying the new commission would be biased.
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