Archives

HARARE, March 19 (AFP) - Zimbabwe's suspension from the Commonwealth was a "bad decision" based on a "bad report" from the group's observers, Information Minister Jonathan Moyo told state television late Tuesday.

"It is a bad report that can only lead to bad decisions," Moyo said of the damning assessment from Commonwealth observers of the March 9-11 presidential election.

Moyo said the government had not yet seen the official statement from the Commonwealth meeting in London ruling on the suspension.

But he denounced the Commonwealth observers' report, calling it "opinionated" and "one-sided," and saying it "lacks credibility and cannot withstand any objective scrutiny."

Moyo also insisted that Zimbabwe would not repeat the presidential elections which extended President Robert Mugabe's 22-year rule by another six-year term.

"The presidential elections are over. They were held in terms of our laws and our constitution, and the next election is not for six years," he said.

Mugabe's main opponent, Morgan Tsvangirai, has rejected the results of the elections, which he said were "massively rigged" and marred by violence against his supporters.

Tsvangirai said earlier Tuesday that fresh elections might be the only way to resolve Zimbabwe's political crisis.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager