Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy

Meeting in Swaziland, the SADC leaders concluded that free and fair elections are not possible under the current violent conditions in Zimbabwe. Meanwhile in Kenya, the Centre for Multiparty Democracy convened members of parliament, government representatives and civil society leaders to discuss the political situation in Zimbabwe.

In a communiqué, co-signed by Kenya’s Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, the conveners  demand that the government of Robert Mugabe and his party ZANU-PF ‘take immediate steps to end the campaign of state terror and violence’. The Kenyans call on the African Union (AU) and its member states, which are scheduled to meet next week, ‘not to recognize Mugabe’s illegitimate presidency’ and ‘to send in a peace-keeping force to stop the spate of violence, atrocities, especially crimes against humanity’. 

Earlier this week, Mr Tsvangirai, the presidential candidate of MDC who won the first round of the elections on March 29, a result that has not been contested and carries an undisputed legitimacy, withdrew from the 2nd round of the elections because of the impossibility to campaign freely due to the violence unleashed by the government.  However, the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission has already ruled that the run-off election on Friday June 27th will go ahead nevertheless. 

The seriousness of the situation in Zimbabwe is illustrated by the detention of the chief MDC negotiator, Mr Tendai Biti, on June11. His ZANU-PF counterpart in the negotiations, facilitated under the aegis of SADC by South African President Thabo Mbeki, is Attorney General Chinamassa, who is responsible for Mr Biti’s detention.  Mr Chinamassa was defeated in the elections of March 29th and lost his seat in Parliament but continues his government position nevertheless.  

NIMD is encouraged by the initiatives taken by its partners in the Eastern and Southern African region to request their governments to intervene in Zimbabwe. To end the violence, restore legitimacy to the government of Zimbabwe through free and fair elections, and to create conditions that are conducive to restart economic development, negotiations about a transitional government are urgently needed.