Kofi Annan says Friday’s run-off deeply flawed

By Tichaona Sibanda
23 June 2008

Former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan said on Monday that the ‘peaceful atmosphere that prevailed during the first round of presidential elections has given way to increasing violence and intimidation against the MDC.’

He said the crackdown had understandably forced MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai to withdraw from the run-off, scheduled for this Friday.

In a statement Annan said appeals by the international community for calm and respect for the rulings of the courts to allow the MDC to continue its election campaign without hindrance have been ignored.

‘Any run-off or announcement of a winner under these circumstances will neither be credible nor acceptable to Zimbabweans, Africa and the international community. The victor emerging from such a flawed process will have no legitimacy to govern Zimbabwe. Besides, such a process would lead to more violence and unnecessary loss of life,’ Annan said.

The former UN secretary-general believes the crisis in the country calls for concerted and more effective action by SADC, the African Union and the international community. Referring to a statement issued by Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa on Sunday calling for the postponement of the elections, Annan said that was ‘an important step towards this objective.’

At a press conference in Lusaka, Zambia Mwanawasa had called on the authorities to postpone to a later date the elections, citing violence and intimidation against MDC supporters as the reason for calling off the elections for now.

He added that the situation in the country imposes a grave responsibility on the African Union and the UN Security Council, which they should assume.

‘The African Union and the Security Council should work with the government, the MDC and people of Zimbabwe, to find a viable solution to the crisis in order to ensure stability, peace, and reconciliation, and thereby enable all Zimbabweans to rebuild their shattered lives and the country,’ he said.

Annan added; ‘A mediation team should be appointed to work with the parties and the people of Zimbabwe to ensure effective transition and governance arrangements that will result in stability, peace and national reconciliation.’

In addition he said the international community should prepare an emergency programme of economic support to help the country end the economic meltdown, to be implemented as part of a political settlement.