THE Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has expressed happiness at the outcome of the just-ended Southern African Development Community (SADC) Heads of State and Government Summit.
MDC director – information and publicity, Luke Timdorinyoka, said the party was happy with the contents of the communiqué, although more could have been done.
Mr Timdorinyoka said that MDC was particularly happy that the Summit had urged the ZEC to expeditiously release the results, as that was the main bone of contention.
He was, however, quick to point out that the Summit could have done better.
Mr Timdorinyoka said the Summit could have deliberated the need to discard what he termed “silent diplomacy” by South African President, Thabo Mbeki.
He said the fact that President Mbeki had been retained as a facilitator for Zimbabwe indicated that other leaders agreed with him on his diplomatic style.
“Time for silent diplomacy is long gone and people now have to speak out and do so loudly,” he said.
On the way forward, Mr Timdorinyoka said the MDC would peacefully await the implementation of the SADC resolutions by the ZEC, saying the announcement of the presidential election results was key.
Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) president, Rueben Lifuka, commended President Mwanawasa for convening the Summit to address the elections impasse in Zimbabwe.
He, however, said the outcome of the SADC Extraordinary meeting fell short of expectations.
Mr Lifuka reminded the SADC Heads of State of the importance of carrying the hopes and aspirations of millions of Zimbabweans who desired a better future for themselves.
He said that it was public expectation that SADC Heads of State would pass the test of credibility and help restore pride in the people of Zimbabwe and Africa by the quality of their decision.
Times of Zambia
A lot of these presidents are allies to Mugabe, so we should not expect much from them. Look at Mbeki, he has been to “diplomatic” in a quite way. No solution – should we wait for more years for a SOLUTION? Zimbabweans deserve much better. Mugabe must realize that the country in need of a change. if it was Mugabe who was imprisoned so long like Mandela, there would have been any political parties in Zim. Power hunger makes one forget all the respect attained. Everything has its own time Mr President. Time for a change has come though Morgan is also seen like spokesman for the west. We need pipo who will do what we Africans want and not what the west want. we are no longer under colonialism.
What SADC leaders managed to do was reign in MDC to accept there was no crisis in Zimbabwe. They also rallied behind ZEC by calling on all parties to accept poll results when they are announced.Even though they called for results to be released all they did was play Mugabe’s tune thanks to Thabo Mbeki.So what was the fuss for.I do’nt think that was Levy’s scheme of things.I am sure he was genuine in thinking SADC leaders would have been unequivocal in calling for sanity in Zim.
we can say it in whatever way we say it, even belittling it, but LAND is central issue in this saga.
We can allow a fathead like Tsvangirai whose CV can not even fill half a page hand over that great country for a song a dance to the imperialists! The strategy of Western detractors has been to inflict pain on the people of Zimbabwe through economic sanctions and then focus their magnifying glass on the pain, so much that it is difficult to convince the faint-hearted of the gain. Mugabe woye, woye.
We CANT allow a fathead like Tsvangirai whose CV can not even fill half a page hand over that great country for a song a dance to the imperialists! The strategy of Western detractors has been to inflict pain on the people of Zimbabwe through economic sanctions and then focus their magnifying glass on the pain, so much that it is difficult to convince the faint-hearted of the gain. Mugabe woye, woye.
Recount to go ahead: ZEC
Herald Reoporter
THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission yesterday said the recount of presidential and House of Assembly election results would proceed on April 19 as announced.
ZEC chief elections officer Mr Utoile Silaigwana said it was within the commission’s mandate to recount election results regardless of parallel court procedures that might be instituted by any political party.
“It is within our mandate as the electoral authority to do the recounts and they would proceed as was announced in our Press statement today (yesterday),” he said.
He, however, said the commission had not seen a High Court order barring the recount as had been reported in some sections
Mwanawasa forgets that he is a product of Rigging. He shouldnt talk much about Zim
Please, dont lift stories for us to read. put up your own analysis!
What I cant figure out is how chasing some farmers can bring up high inflation
Many thanks to the MDC for recognising the efforts by my President – of the Republic of Zambia – to help solve the impasse in Zimbabwe.
The sad part to note is that courts have been a disappointment. No woner HH said going to court was going to be an academic exercise and he thus could not waste precious time to do it.
Zimbabweans, I m sad to see all this happen in Zim. Africa will surely remain behind in economic and social advancement if we continue to exhibit the behaviour we are seeing in most of our leaders.
What is happening to Dr Kenneth David Kaunda. Does anyone know his whereabouts? He truly is an African states. I hope his friends would emulate him.
First, release the results if the would knows then recount. There was also no need to force Mbeki to end his silent diplomacy because that is another way of diplomacy. However, Let Zuma continue to speak out on the situation in Zimbabwe as that will improve his profile. Mwanawasa, job well done. What is the next stage if RGM continues with arrogance, which is one of his middle names?
#3,4,5.Land in Zim my dear has been mismanaged.After being in power for over 20 yrs Robert did not prepare the indigenous Zimbo in the technical know how of running a farm as a commercial venture for eventual take over of farms.As a result when his war vets drove out the former owners the new owners had and still have no idea of what to do with their vast lands. Take a drive from Chirundu thru to Harare. They have eaten the dairy animals and made firewood out the fencing poles.Fact is Zim nids a way out and Bob is not the man to do that.They must plan the way out.
Once again, the Southern Afriocan Dictators’ Club (SADC) ha ve proven its complete worthlessness. Well done boys, go on and slaughter and starve all those Zimbabweans who voted in the “free and fair elections”!!
I really thank God that Botswana is in southern africa, at least bala tusebululako insoni. Look at Festus Mogae, apart from the old man Nyerere which one of our hyenas would graciously step down like him? resounding NONE. Well i dont want to be hash on the new faces but chances are that the DNA will be the same as the Mugabe, Chuchu and compny. we are yet to see.
zim is for zim, why cant the world media concentrate on burma, somalia, sudan why zimbabwe,
Well done everyone, i mean nos. 1 to 15. I personally welcome your opinions but fact is, its a dark hour for Zimbabwe. May GOD serve that country.
#15 soutern african countris are minly christian nations, and therefore very easy to manipulate. Somali, sudan, etc, are islamic coutries and therefor live wires. Irqis, just made a mistake to which they regret now, to say the least.
MDC are agents of colonialism. Their future is as bright as a devil’s lounge.
It is shocking that the West are supporting the MDC with such loud noises and yet when it was Zambians suffering a rigging under Chiluba and Levy in 2001, they were zzzz! These people in the west are racist and must not be entertained by any rightful thinking person.
Zimbabwe must solve its own problems. When we were suffering under the yoke of massive corruption under Chiluba, Zimbabwe and SADC did not raise any meeting to confront Zambia the way Mwanawasa has tried to do. This is meddling in other people’s countries. This is wrong and let people solve their own problems. I propose that Mugabe calls a meeting for SADC to discuss the dispossession of Zambians of their resources by Levy and his friends for a change!
people i also wondered why levy was the one to call the summit, it is because he is the head of sadc. no other president could have done it. only him because he heads the thing.
he couldn’t just sit back and watch, he had to do something otherwise people would have pointed fingers at him for being complacent.
also, believe it or not, what happens in zimbabwe affects other countries int he region. zambia included.
for all those reasons and more, levy needed to call that meeting.
i don’t like levy much but even i can see why he did it.
and don’t say dumb sh!t like let them solve their own problems, what are you, 10 years old?
#19, if war breaks out in zim, where do you think those f*ckers will go? they will cross the border and come to us.
i don’t mean to pick on you but you have to see the bigger picture, all that nonsense happening there does affect us and our country. even our economy and currency. so its best to handle the situation before it worsens