Maravi

(NEWZIMBABWE) Zanu PF observes elections in Denmark
08/12/2013 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter

DESPITE its leader barring the European Union (EU) from observing local polls, Zanu PF joined a Zimbabwean delegation which observed Denmark’s municipal elections last month. The Royal Danish embassy in Harare confirmed Zanu PF’s participation in its electoral processes.

According the embassy, Zanu PF was represented by Brigadier Gen (Rtd) Asher Walter Tapfumaneyi and one Tangisayi Tapera. The delegation also included MDC leader Welshman Ncube and representatives of the MDC-T. Zanu PF deputy information director Psychology Maziwisa could neither deny nor confirm his party observed the Danish elections.

“This is something I would ordinarily comment by I am not commenting on this issue. However, we have a right to accept an invitation from anyone or decline including Denmark,” he said.

“It is also up to Denmark to invite who they want to let in or shut out. Similarly as a country we can decide who can come in or not.”

Opposition MDC-T spokesperson Douglas Mwonzora said the MDC-T was surprised that Zanu PF sent a delegation to observe a European election.

“We are surprised that Zanu PF sends a delegation despite having refused the Europeans to observe our elections and what happened showed the duplicity and hypocrisy in Zanu PF,” Mwonzora said.

A social, political and media commentator Ernest Mudzengi: “I think it simply shows that they (Zanu PF) are hypocritical and need to revise the way they conduct their business.

“The key question is why they would want certain democratic imperatives to apply to other people and not to them.”
Mwonzora said his party believed in universal democracy.

“The MDC is of the firm position that in the democracy we want to usher into Zimbabwe there is no separate democracy for Africa, Zimbabwe or Europe.

“We observe other countries so that we tap into their experience even though they are Europeans they are simply part of a global village and we have to learn from each other,” the former Nyanga North legislator said.

President Mugabe refused to allow the EU to observe the March constitutional referendum and his re-election in July in a vote dismissed as fraudulent by his rivals.

“The Europeans and the Americans have imposed sanctions on us and we keep them out in the same way they have kept us out,” President Mugabe said as he cast his vote during the March constitutional referendum.

The Zanu PF leader was however, made clear his anger at the refusal by the EU to endorse his re-election despite African observers giving the July vote the all-clear.

The development has seen the EU holding back on lifting sanctions which were suspended ahead of the vote with the promise that they would be completely lifted if the elections were credible.

Speaking during his inauguration Mugabe said: “Today we tell those dissenting nations that the days of colonialism and neo-colonialism have gone and gone forever. Today it is Britain and her dominions of Australia and Canada who dare tell us that our elections were not fair and credible.

“Today it is America and her illegal elections with all that past of enslaving us, it is America that dares raise a censorious voice over our affairs and says our elections were not fair, were not credible, yes today it is these Anglo-Saxon who dare contradict Africa’s verdict over elections in Zimbabwe, an African country. But who are they we ask? Whoever gave them the gift of seeing better than all of us?”

As an EU member, Denmark has supported Zimbabwe’s democratic transition processes and the establishment of governance institutions since the signing of the Global Political Agreement that culminated in the establishment of a coalition government.

Denmark and Zimbabwe have a long history of cooperation dating back to the days of the struggle for independence.

“Denmark was a strong supporter of a free and independent Zimbabwe and continued to provide extensive support for its development after independence.

“Denmark has since 2008 helped about two million of the most vulnerable people out of immediate food shortage and distress,” the embassy said.

Labels: DENMARK, DOUGLAS MWONZORA, ELECTIONS, EU, PSYCHOLOGY MAZIWISA, ZANU-PF

posted by MrK @ 3:18 PM