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Zimbabwe election unfair – international action urgent
March 14, 2002,
Zimbabwe election unfair – international action urgent
The Movement for Democratic Change in Zimbabwe has rejected the declaration of the presidential elections in favour of President Robert Mugabe. It has taken court action to have the declaration overturned. MDC will take its lead from the people, whose democratic will has been denied.
We must speak out now to support the Zimbabwean people in this tragic hour.
The election process – the roll, the voter education, campaigning and access to the media - was unfair, marred by widespread violence and intimidation, from the very beginning. Over 400,000 names were added to the voter roll in the final weeks, and these were crucial to the outcome. Ballot boxes were not in the view of monitors at all times. Over 250,000 voters in Harare were denied the vote by a reduction in the number of polling stations, and several hundred thousand more were not allowed to enroll.
Zimbabwe had come to a virtual standstill as the election drew closer – inflation is over 110%, unemployment is around 70%, hunger is widespread, the Aids death rate is rising ever higher. President Mugabe’s theft of the election has robbed the people of a way out of the economic and social disaster he has created. Now this crisis can only plumb new depths of violence unless renewed efforts in Zimbabwe and internationally can change the direction.
Call today by phone, fax or email on the Commonwealth ‘troika’, and the United Nations to:
unequivocally reject the declaration of the presidential elections, and to call for new elections under international supervision;
condemn any wave of retribution against the Movement for Democratic Change and its supporters;
impose smart sanctions on the Mugabe regime now;
urgently mobilise emergency food and medical relief for the people of Zimbabwe through non-government channels and prepare for movements of refugees across the borders.
The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting appointed the following leaders to act, in consultation with Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon, on the reports of the Commonwealth Observer Mission in Zimbabwe:
John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia
Ph: 02 9251 5711
Fax: 02 9251 5454
Email: via his webpage: www.pm.gov.au
President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa Mr Zolile T Magugu
Ph: 0011 27 12 300 5200 South African High Commissioner
Fax: 0015 27 12 323 8246 Ph: 02 6273 2424, Fax: 02 6273 3543
Email
President Olesegun Obasanjo of Nigeria
C/- His Excellency Dr R Soule High Commissioner for Nigeria
Ph: 02 6282 7411
Fax: 02 6282 8471
Email
Hon Donald McKinnon
Commonwealth Secretary-General
Fax: +44 20 7930 1647
Email
Mr Kofi Annan
Secretary-General
United Nations Security Council
NEW YORK NY USA
Fax: +1 212 963 7055
Email
From
| Dr Meredith Burgmann | | | Peter Murphy |
| President,ZIC Inc | | | Secretary, ZIC Inc |
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