U.S. Says Zimbabwe Election Not Credible
The United States does not believe that the results announced Saturday represent a credible expression of the will of the Zimbabwean people
WASHINGTON DC — The United States says election results announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) on Saturday showing an outright win by President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu PF party do not reflect the will of the people. In a statement, the U.S. State Department said the people of Zimbabwe should be commended for rejecting violence and showing their commitment to the democratic process. “But make no mistake. In light of substantial electoral irregularities reported by domestic and regional observers, the United States does not believe that the results announced today represent a credible expression of the will of the Zimbabwean people,” reads part of the statement. It says though the United States was restricted from monitoring these elections, the balance of evidence indicates that Saturday’s announcement was the culmination of a deeply flawed process. “There were irregularities in the provision and composition of the voters roll. The parties had unequal access to state media. The security sector did not safeguard the electoral process on an even-handed basis. And the government failed to implement the political reforms mandated by Zimbabwe’s new constitution, the Global Political Agreement, and the region.” The U.S. further says, “We urge the Southern African Development Community and the African Union to address their concerns with the electoral process, as well as those raised by domestic monitoring groups. The Government of Zimbabwe needs to chart a way forward that will give the people of Zimbabwe the opportunity to express their most fundamental democratic right in a free and fair environment. We further call on all parties to refrain from violence during this period.” The United States said it shares the same fundamental interests as the Zimbabwean people - a peaceful, democratic, prosperous Zimbabwe that reflects the will of its people and provides opportunities for them to flourish. “For that to happen, the Government of Zimbabwe should heed the voices of its citizens and implement the democratic reforms mandated by the country’s new constitution. Only then will Zimbabwe truly embark on a path towards democracy that reflects the aspirations of its people.” The U.S. further noted that these elections were an opportunity for Zimbabwe to move forward on a democratic path and provide a foundation for growth and prosperity. According to ZEC, President Robert Mugabe won 61 percent of the total vote while Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai only managed to get a meager 1.2 million votes or 33.9 percent.