US Changes Tune on Zimbabwe Elections

Regional organizational representative for Central, Eastern and Southern Africa head Bethuel Kiplagat reports on the monitoring of the Zimbabwe elections of July 31, 2013. COMESA has endorsed the poll., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

US in dramatic poll U-turn

November 14, 2013
Munyaradzi Musiiwa Midlands Correspondent
Zimbabwe Herald

THE United States has broken ranks with the Anglo-Saxon alliance that has been trying to discredit the harmonised elections describing them as free and fair though “disappointing.” US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Bruce Wharton made the admission as he toured Naletale Ruins here yesterday to which his country donated US$64 000 for renovations.

The United States, Britain and its dominions Australia and Canada have been lone voices in trying to trash the harmonised elections that were endorsed by the United Nations, the AU, Sadc, Comesa, the African Caribbean and Pacific countries as well as over 40 progressive countries and organisations spread over five continents.

The harmonised elections, Mr Wharton said, were a major improvement in the right direction for the people of Zimbabwe.

“Yes, a lot was said about the elections. The EU (European Union) described them as generally credible but the bottom line is that the July 31 harmonised elections were free and fair though there were some disappointments.

There was a major improvement in the manner in which the election process was done compared to the 2008 harmonised elections, a positive development in the right direction for the people of Zimbabwe,” he said.

While the AU, Sadc, Comesa, the ACP countries and the rest of the progressive world endorsed the harmonised elections as free, fair, peaceful and credible, the Anglo-Saxon alliance that conceived and sponsored the MDC-T refused to endorse the elections in the wake of the MDC-T’s crushing defeat.

Sadc went a step further by electing President Mugabe deputy chair and Summit Troika member effectively moving Zimbabwe from an agenda item to the leadership of the bloc while the AU nominated ZEC chairperson Justice Rita Makarau to head its mission to the Rwanda general elections in September.

President Mugabe romped to victory after garnering 61,09 percent of the vote to MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai’s 33,94 percent with Zanu-PF clinching 160 seats out of the 210 National Assembly constituencies to get a crushing 76 percent dominance.

After factoring in 60 women’s quota seats elected by proportional representation of six for each of the 10 provinces, the final composition of the National Assembly comes to 197 seats for Zanu-PF, 70 for MDC-T, two for MDC, and one independent giving Zanu-PF just under 73 percent of the total seats in the National Assembly but well over the two thirds majority of 180 seats.

Zanu-PF also dominates the Senate with 37 seats to 21 for the MDC-T and two for the MDC. The picture is the same in the local authorities where Zanu-PF commands 1 496 wards against a mere 443 for the MDC-T.

Ambassador Wharton said the US was eager to re-engage Zimbabwe to ensure the restoration of good relations.

“Washington does not seek to disengage with Zimbabwe. The two countries need each other. The fact that we’re are here touring (Naletale) Ruins pursuing our efforts to work with the department of Museums and national Monuments shows the will to work with Zimbabwe,” he said.

Ambassador Wharton also applauded the Zimbabwe tourism saying it was key in the economy of the country.
“We are still looking for ways to engage each other and tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors of the Zimbabwean economy and the US is keen to work with help revive its tourism sector.

This is why we have been very supportive to the idea by the National Museums and Monuments to restore some parts of Naletale Ruins which collapsed. ‘’We are working with archeologists at the Midlands State University to make sure that we assist in getting Naletale Ruins to its original state,” he said.

The United States Embassy donated $64 000 towards the rehabilitation of Naletale Ruins.