Announcement of Zimbabwe Election Date

Question: What is our reaction to President Mugabe setting an election date of March 29 and the opposition calling it a blow to mediation efforts?

We have supported the SADC-sponsored effort to resolve the political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe through negotiation between the ruling and opposition parties. We regret that President Mugabe has insisted on proceeding with the presidential and parliamentary elections on March 29 without having reached an agreement on conditions that would have leveled the playing field for all parties planning to compete in those elections. Police efforts on January 23 to prevent the march and rally by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change is further illustration of the Government of Zimbabwe undermining the spirit of the SADC process.

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