Maravi

Sata celebrates Mugabe's victory
By Roy Habaalu and Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Wed 07 Aug. 2013, 14:00 CAT

PRESIDENT Michael Sata says the electoral victory of Robert Mugabe signifies the trust and commitment the people of Zimbabwe have in him. In a congratulatory message to his Zimbabwean counterpart on his resounding victory, President Sata commended President Mugabe for the free and peaceful environment under which the elections were held. President Sata stated that President Mugabe's victory was resounding and emphatic.

"I would like to take this opportunity to further commend Your Excellency and Dear Brother, for the free and peaceful environment under which these elections were conducted at every level across the country," President Sata said.

"Your victory signifies the trust and commitment that the people of Zimbabwe maintain in the ZANU-PF and your able leadership to continue the programmes and policies that will bring development to your country."

President Sata said: "As we join in celebrating this momentous and joyous occasion, I look forward to strengthening further, the existing warm bilateral relations between Zambia and Zimbabwe for the mutual benefit of our two sisterly countries."

And acting president Alexander Chikwanda yesterday said economic sanctions on Zimbabwe by Western powers had outlived their usefulness.

Official results of the harmonised elections confirmed that veteran President Mugabe would extend his 33 years in power after defeating Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in the July 31 harmonised elections.

Mugabe's ZANU-PF party won a two-thirds majority in Parliament to break its acrimonious power sharing deal with Tsvangirai and his Movement for Democratic Change. In congratulating president Mugabe, Chikwanda said the economic sanctions on Zimbabwe no longer had any moral support.

"The sanctions have outlived their usefulness and it has, therefore, become morally implausible to maintain eternal ostracism of Zimbabwe from the community of nations," Chikwanda said in a statement issued by finance ministry head of public relations Chileshe Kandeta.

"Going into the future, the illustrious, diligent and resourceful people of Zimbabwe should be allowed unfettered opportunity to prosper and make a useful contribution to overall global prosperity and well-being."

Although most Western governments had questioned the credibility of the election of the 89-year-old Mugabe, African monitors broadly approved the conduct of the election.
And Chikwanda said President Mugabe needed the support of every Zimbabwean as he embarks on his sixth term in office.

"We take this opportunity to appeal to all sections of Zimbabwe to remain calm and united as they forge ahead for enhanced economic prosperity," said Chikwanda. "We appeal to countries in the international community which still maintain sanctions against Zimbabwe to lift those punitive sanctions in the interest of our common humanity and fellowship."

Some analysts in Zimbabwe say President Mugabe's win offered a chance to patch up ties with foreign donors who suspended support and imposed sanctions amid charges of serious human rights abuses and wrecking the economy.

"On behalf of President Michael Chilufya Sata, the government, and the people of the Republic of Zambia and on my own behalf, I wish to congratulate President Robert Gabriel Mugabe for yet again being elected president of Zimbabwe," said Chikwanda.

Labels: 2013 ELECTIONS (ZW), MICHAEL SATA, ROBERT MUGABE

posted by MrK @ 5:44 PM