Mixed Reaction to Outcome of SADC Summit on Zimbabwe

There was mixed reaction by Zimbabweans on Sunday to the outcome of a southern African emergence meeting to break the stalemate over the country’s disputed election.

Leaders of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) fell short of issuing a stern warning to President Robert Mugabe’s government whose actions posed a security threat to a region still smarting from civil wars in three member states.

“The summit urged the electoral authorities in Zimbabwe that verification and release of results are expeditiously done in accordance with the due process of law,” said a statement issued at the close of the summit.

The summit also urged all the parties in the Zimbabwean electoral process to accept the results when they are announced.

The outcome galvanised Mugabe’s government, which had appeared to be cornered after results of elections held on March 29 showed the ruling party losing its parliamentary majority for the first time in 28 years.

Buoyed by the familiar show of camaraderie from fellow SADC ruling parties, ZANU PF immediately announced a recount of presidential and House of Assembly ballots in 23 constituencies.

The move is meant to restore ZANU PF’s parliamentary majority, which could prove critical in the event Mugabe wins an anticipated second round presidential poll against opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.

ZANU PF fears the opposition, which collectively won 108 of the 207 contested parliamentary seats at the initial count early this month, could use its majority to veto Mugabe’s decisions if he wins the run-off.

Three constituencies were not contested following the deaths of opposition candidates.

However, the SADC summit outcome was received with reservations by ordinary Zimbabweans who felt shortchanged again by the regional colleagues.

“SADC is setting a dangerous precedence for dictators in the region and unfortunately it is the ordinary citizens of southern Africa who will suffer as the ruling elite protect each other,” A Harare resident told APA on Sunday.

Most Zimbabweans had expected the SADC leaders to rap Mugabe on the knuckle.

Source African Press Agency

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