Zimbabwe Vice-President John Landa Nkomo was briefed by a special envoy from Ivory Coast who is lobbying for an electoral recount to resolve the political crisis inside the country. Nkomo said Zimbabwe would attend the AU meeting this month.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
Thursday, 06 January 2011 21:07
By Tendai Mugabe
Zimbabwe Herald
ZIMBABWE stands guided by the African Union on any position to be taken on the Cote d’Ivoire crisis following a disputed presidential run-off on November 28 last year, a senior Government official has said.
Incumbent president Laurent Gbabgo, who was pronounced winner of the run-off by Cote d’Ivoire’s constitutional court, yesterday sent a special envoy to lobby for Zimbabwe’s support for a vote re-count and the setting up of an international commission to audit the process that led to the crisis ahead of the African Union Summit set for later this month.
The special envoy, Dr Zogou H.B Abie, met Acting President John Landa Nkomo for hours at his Munhumutapa Offices before leaving in the afternoon.
Dr Abie had also been sent to seek Zimbabwe’s support for an amicable resolution to the crisis ahead of the African Union summit.
The AU meets on January 31 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where the Cote d’Ivoire issue is expe-cted to be high on the agenda.
Speaking to journalists after the meeting yesterday, Presidential spokesman Mr George Cha-ramba said Cote d’Ivoire; "was asking for an international commission to come in and evaluate the whole poll process on voting and where to get the truth on what happened.
"He said there must be a recount of votes and a peaceful resolution to the crisis."
Mr Charamba, who is also the Secretary for Media, Information and Publicity, said Acting President Nkomo received the special envoy on behalf of President Mugabe.
The President is on his annual leave and is expected back in the country at the weekend.
Mr Charamba said Zimbabwe could not take an independent position over the matter, adding that the AU would guide Zimbabwe on any position to be taken.
"Zimbabwe will only follow a cue from the AU, which is due to meet on 31 January in Addis Ababa. Zimbabwe is a child of the AU both historically and by membership.
"It evolves its position in sync with the AU, which is why for us we are saying the 31 January summit will decide the way forward," he said.
Mr Charamba said the special envoy told the Acting President that the proposed international commission would comprise the AU, Ecowas, Russia, China, the United States of America and some European countries.
He said the envoy briefed Acting President Nkomo on the pre- and post-election situation in Cote d’Ivoire.
"Acting President Nkomo warmly received the envoy on behalf of President Mugabe and got a Cote d’ Ivoire crisis: Zim stands guided by AU briefing of the situation unfolding in that country’s post election.
"It was a detailed briefing backed by documents related to the situation. Among the documents was a translated copy of the Cote d’ Ivoire constitution.
"Acting President Nkomo indicated to him Zimbabwe’s commitment to a peaceful resolution to the Ivory Coast crisis in a manner that recognises its laws," he said.
Mr Charamba said Zimbabwe’s position would also evolve after the President has been briefed by Cde Nkomo.
Cote d’ Ivoire plunged into turmoil after the chairman of that country’s Independent Electoral Commission failed to announce preliminary results of the polls within 72 hours as required by the law.
The commission chairperson then announced the results on the fourth day at a local hotel that housed opposition leader Mr Alassane Quattara, breaching the country’s laws that stipulate that the results should be announced at the commission’s headquarters.
The electoral commission declared Mr Quattara, leader of the Rally of the Republicans winner of the poll, triggering the ongoing chaos in the country.
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