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(TIMES) SADC meet backlash

SADC meet backlash
Transparency International Zambia calls on leaders to sort out Zimbabwe polls mess...
By Times Reporter

Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) has called on the Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit scheduled for Lusaka this weekend to conclusively deal with the problems facing Zimbabwe. TIZ executive director, Goodwell Lungu, said in Lusaka yesterday that the election aftermath in Zimbabwe was worrisome and a dent to Africa’s democratisation.

He said that the summit should not gloss over the problem but be decisive and help to resolve the problems in that country.

Mr lungu also hoped that the opposition parties , Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) and other stakeholders would be invited to the summit as a way of facilitating the resolution of the crisis.

And United Party for National Development (UPND) president, Hakainde Hichilema, has welcomed the decision to hold a summit over the Zimbabwe elections crisis.

Mr Hichilema said yesterday at a Press briefing that his party and Zambians were concerned about what was happening in Zimbabwe, a country that shared a long border with Zambia.

He said he understood and appreciated the sovereignty of Zimbabwe but that the situation was deteriorating and no country could survive as an island.

“Elections were held almost half a month ago. So I ask the people of Zimbabwe, the government and the opposition to be magnanimous by releasing the presidential results because the situation could worsen,” he said.

Mr Hichilema also commended the opposition in Zimbabwe for holding back their supporters to avoid violence.

Former vice-president Lieutenant General, Christon Tembo, has commended President Mwanawasa for his move to call for an extraordinary SADC Heads of State summit to discuss the deepening tension in Zimbabwe.

Lieutenant General Tembo said in an interview yesterday that the move was appropriate, as it would help ease the tension in that country.

He said it was only Heads of State from the region that would bring the two parties together in that country.

Gen Tembo said there was need for the Heads of State to speak to both Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe and opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, to ensure the two parties agreed on the way forward.

He appealed to Zimbabweans to heed to President Mwanawasa’s call for them to remain calm.

“As the SADC chairperson, Dr Mwanawasa has shown true leadership. The issue of Zimbabwe needs to be handled by the Heads of State and the move by the President to call for this extraordinary meeting has come at the right time,” he said.

And the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) has said the move by President Mwanawasa was a positive one, which should be supported by the international community.

Deputy secretary general for organisation and administration, Alfred Mudenda, said Dr Mwanawasa had provided useful leadership that would help ease the political impasse.

He said the move was a positive one, which needed support from the international community.

Mr Mudenda said any disturbance in Zimbabwe would affect the economic development in the entire region, hence the need to commend Dr Mwanawasa’s move.

“The President has provided useful leadership on this matter especially that it will be beneficial to the entire region. It is the move which should also be supported by the international community,” he said.

On Wednesday, Dr Mwanawasa called for an extraordinary Heads of State summit to discuss the deepening tension in Zimbabwe.

Labels: ELECTIONS, SADC, TIZ, ZEC, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 3:24 PM