Britain condemns Zanu PF's 'flawed' victory

Britain condemns Zanu PF's 'flawed' victory

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By Agencies

BRITAIN joined international condemnation of Zimbabwe's parliamentary elections on Friday, saying President Robert Mugabe had cheated voters and prolonged his country's economic and political crisis.

"Zimbabwe's 2005 parliamentary elections were fundamentally flawed and further weaken Mugabe's legitimacy," Foreign Minister Jack Straw said in a statement.

"Mugabe has yet again denied ordinary Zimbabweans a free and fair opportunity to vote, further prolonging the political and economic crisis he has inflicted on their country."

Mugabe, who led Zimbabwe to independence from Britain in 1980, has been engaged in a war of words with London, which he frequently accuses of seeking to subvert his government and re-colonise the country.

Other Western powers including the European Union (EU), the United States, Germany and Australia have also criticised this week's parliamentary election, saying it was conducted in an atmosphere of fear and political intimidation.

Straw said Britain would continue to work with the EU and the Commonwealth to promote democratic change in Zimbabwe, and said EU sanctions imposed on Mugabe's government should remain in force until its concerns were addressed.

"Zimbabwe will continue to attract our closest attention: we want to see an end to bad government and bad policies and a return to accountable, democratic government which respects the rule of law and the human rights of its citizens."

Straw enumerated a long list of democratic failings in Zimbabwe, rainging from a "severely compromised" voter's roll to repressive laws which limit freedom of speech and association.

"Some say this is about Africa versus the West. It is not. It is about democracy versus dictatorship," he said - Reuters
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