The Sunday News
Sharon Munjenjema and Levi Mukarati
Adequate measures have been taken to ensure tomorrow’s elections are credible, and after announcement of results, losing parties should direct any grievances through the relevant legal channels, United States Senator Jeff Flake has said.
The Republican legislator, who is involved in crafting the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Amendment Bill, said this at a media briefing in Harare yesterday. He is in Zimbabwe to observe tomorrow’s harmonised elections. President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration, he noted, had put in place satisfactory measures for free and fair elections.
“A lot of the steps that need to be taken have been taken in terms of the potential for free and fair elections. Our hope is that the election results will be accepted and that if there are challenges, those challenges will go through the relevant legal channels. Things are in place for a free and fair election, that’s a good first step,” said Sen Flake.
ZDERA, which has been in force for the past 17 years, prevents Zimbabwe from getting support from international financial institutions such as the World Bank Group and the IMF where the US has an interest. The amended Bill is understood to be the first step towards normalising relations.
Sen Flake said: “We want nothing more as the United States Congress — and I know the administration feels the same — to be able to say that all the impediments have been removed towards full partnership (in terms of) the economy and political partnerships as well, so we can have a relationship that’s based on mutual trust and human rights and democracy.”
The revised law puts an emphasis on free and fair elections as a precondition to co-operation between the two countries.
“Our greatest hope is that free and fair elections can be held . . . and that additional reforms with regards to the economy and human rights can take place as well and remove any impediments towards economic growth. The US is willing to partner and continue our partnership with the people of Zimbabwe,” said Sen Flake.
Meanwhile, former Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf yesterday paid a courtesy call on President Mnangagwa at his Munhumutapa Offices in her capacity as co-head of the International Republican Institute-National Democratic Institute election observation mission.
She was accompanied by US Congresswoman Karen Bass, former US ambassador to Zimbabwe Johnnie Carson and other mission members. Sources close to the meeting said the team, particularly Ambassador Carson (representing NDI), had expressed satisfaction that the political space in Zimbabwe had been enhanced since President Mnangagwa’s inauguration late last year.
Ambassador Carson, our Harare Bureau was informed, said observer missions had been allowed unimpeded access and that the election campaign period had been peaceful. The sources added that the IRA, which has been in Zimbabwe on a pre-election assessment since June, was full of praise for Government for showing that “there was nothing to hide”.
Responding to questions from journalists after the meeting, ex-President Johnson-Sirleaf said: “We were very pleased with the opportunity to meet the President together with my colleagues . . . Just a message to all Zimbabweans is that, as they go out and vote, vote your choice, make your country proud and altogether work for the development of Zimbabwe.
“This is a great opportunity for all Zimbabweans to go out there, to exercise their right of free choice, to ensure that they stay peaceful, that the environment allows for a successful election and for a transition that will make all Zimbabweans and the international community very proud.”
Congresswoman Bass said tomorrow’s elections are a major determinant of how relations between Harare and Washington would develop.
“We had a resolution that has called for free and fair and transparent elections and hoping that after that process we could begin a new relationship with the country,” she said.
