EU backtracks

The European Union, which said it will declare Zimbabwe’s elections free and fair if the African observers say so, today said it will now follow developments and work closely with its international partners because it is concerned about alleged irregularities and reports of incomplete participation.

The Zimbabwean government said it would not invite European Union and United States observers because they were already biased.

The EU did not dispute the findings of the African observers but instead just thanked them for the positive role they played and thanked the people of Zimbabwe for holding peaceful election.

Mugabe won the election by a 61 percent vote while his Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front won 158 of the 210 parliamentary seats.

Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change has rejected the results alleging massive rigging and is going to court.

The question that remains unanswered is that, if indeed there was rigging, would ZANU-PF be so stupid to rig such an unbelievable result?

And if there were any people that were barred from voting, why it is assumed they were supporters of the MDC alone?

Full EU statement:

Declaration by the High Representative Catherine Ashton on behalf of the EU on the elections in Zimbabwe

The European Union takes note of the announced results of elections in Zimbabwe and the assessments of the Southern African Development Community and the African Union. It would like to thank both organisations for the positive role they played in the run-up to the elections and throughout the electoral process. The EU congratulates the people of Zimbabwe for a peaceful vote and for turning out in high numbers. It welcomes the generally peaceful and orderly manner in which the elections were conducted.

The EU is concerned about alleged irregularities and reports of incomplete participation, as well as the identified weaknesses in the electoral process and a lack of transparency. The EU will continue to follow developments and work closely with its international partners in the weeks to come. The EU encourages all parties to maintain calm and order

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