Senegalese President Calls on Zimbabweans to Prioritise National Interests

The president of Zimbabwe Robert Mugabe has commended the wish of the head of state of Senegal, Abdoulaye Wade, to “see all sons of Zimbabwe put forward their country’s interests, safeguard unity at all costs and refuse bloodshed or violence as a means of solving political disputes,” the Senegalese Foreign Affairs Minister Cheikh Tidiane Gadio declared.

Foreign minister Gadio visited Zimbabwe at the behest of President Wade.

According to the official results of the March 29 presidential election published Friday by the Electoral Commission (ZEC), Tsvangirai collected 47.9 percent of votes against 43.2 percent for incumbent Mugabe, who rules Zimbabwe since independence in 1980.

The Foreign ministry’s press release copied to APA Friday said President Mugabe hailed his Senegalese counterpart’s initiative, saying he is “a true African patriot ready to commit himself to the cause of peace and harmony in Africa”.

The Zimbabwean leader called on the opposition and his own supporters to “accept the results published by the Electoral Commission of Zimbabwe but also engage in the second round with good faith and firm resolve to accept the People’s verdict in a transparent, free, democratic and undisputed election.»

President Mugabe said he was “ready to reach out to every son and daughter of the country,” further assuring the Senegalese envoy he will accept the results of the second round. He urged the opposition to make the same commitment.

The Senegalese Foreign Affairs Minister said he noted the same concern from the official Zimbabwean crisis mediator Thabo Mbeki who also commended President Wade for his initiative and call to the Zimbabwean political community.

Source African Press Agency

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