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Dos Santos says Tsvangirai must stand
By Raymond Maingire
HARARE, May 8, 2008 (thezimbabwtimes.com) – Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos, who is thecurrentchairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Co-operation has urged MDC President, Morgan Tsvangirai to abandon plans of a poll boycott.
He says it is against the laws of Zimbabwe for Tsvangirai to boycott.
The MDC leader has said he does not see any need for a run-off against President Robert Mugabe whom he says he defeated in the March 29 presidential election.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has declared there was no outright winner and called for a run-off between the two bitter rivals.
ZEC says Tsvangirai garnered 47,9 per cent of the valid vote while Mugabe won only 43,2 per cent.
But SADC Executive Secretary Tomas Salomao, who is part ofa SADC Ministerial Committee assigned to assess the political situation ahead of the run off, says the opposition would be breaking the law if it boycotts the crucial poll.
“The message of the chairperson of the organ is to urge the political parties in Zimbabwe to participate in the run off in full observation of the law,” Salomao told state television yesterday.
The MDC claims conditions for a free and fair election have been further compromised by post election violence visited upon its supporters by Zanu PF militant groups. At least 24 MDC supporters are said to have died since March 29.
President Eduardo dos Santos mandated an SADC ministerial committee to visit the country to assess the political situation and preparations for the run-off.
The troika arrived in Zimbabwe on Tuesday to assess the situation ahead of the run off between Mugabe and Tsvangirai.
The SADC team comprises Angolan External Affairs Minister, Mr Joao Miranda, SADC Executive Secretary Tomas Salomao, Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Mathendele Dlamini and Ambassador Rajab of Tanzania .
The delegation met President Mugabe on Tuesday and ZEC chairperson George Chiweshe on the Zimbabwean elections.
Salomao said the troika urged President Mugabe to ensure the run-off for presidential election is held in a “secure environment”.
Salomao said the SADC troika urged Chiweshe to expedite the announcement of the run-off poll date in accordance with the laws of the country.
“The sooner the run off takes place the better,” said Salomao.
“So I believe that they know that according to the law, the run off is held 21 days after but also the law gives them room to extend that decision.
“But it is clear that you cannot extend for ever. You need to extend for a reasonable date just to ensure that you have everything in place to have a very smooth run off.
“At the same time the ZEC needs to ensure that when they announce the date, everything is in place in particular when it comes to logistics to ensure that the elections are held without any disruptions.”
Salomao said the SADC team was keen to meet Tsvangirai who is currently outside the country to persuade African leaders to impress upon Mugabe to concede defeat.
Meanwhile, a team of retired generals from South Africa on Wednesday visited some Harare health institutions where scores of opposition supporters are receiving treatment for injuries sustained at the hands of pro-Zanu PF militants.
Retired Major Kudzai Mbudzi, a top ally and advisor to former Finance Minister and losing presidential candidate in the March elections, Dr Simba Makoni says he was part of the team that visited the hospitals.
“We visited clinics where these political victims are receiving treatment,” said Major Mbudzi.
“Everywhere we were going it actually pathetic. The situation is terrifying to say the least.”
It is said government was not represented during the tour, which comprised political parties and NGOs dealing with displaced people.
Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu could not be reached for comment.
But MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa said his party, which bears the brunt of the abuses, was also not part of the delegation.
“We were also surprised to hear that some of the beatings were committed after Vice President Joice Mujuru openly incited people to beat members of the opposition in Mount Darwin," said Major Mbudzi.
“The generals did not make any public comments but there was some empathetic attention from them and they did see the situation was very desperate.”
Zimbabwe held a relatively peacefully harmonized elections on March 29.
The country has since witnessed massive violence on mostly opposition MDC supporters and election agents who stand accused of plotting the downfall of President Mugabe.
Armed soldiers have been deployed mainly in known Zanu-PF strongholds such as Mudzi, Guruve, Mount Darwin, Manicaland and some parts of Mashonaland East to punish the people for voting against Mugabe.
The 84 year old leader is campaigning for a new term as President after being at the helm of government for 28 years since independence from Britain in 1980.
Diplomatic pressure for Mugabe has intensified over the past few weeks.
SADC convened an extra-ordinary summit in Lusaka last month to discuss the stand off in Zimbabwe emanating from ZEC's failure to release the presidential election results.
The African Union has also dispatched the chairman of its executive arm Jean Ping for talks with Mugabe.
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