Zimbabweans have solutions to their problems, say Southern African Presidents
By Muyanga Ziba
Southern African leaders finished their crisis meeting on Sunday and agreed that all parties in Zimbabwe should accept the results of the elections when they are announced saying Zimbabweans hold the destiny for their country.
Malawian President Dr. Bingu Wa Mutharika said upon arrival in Malawi that there is need for parties to accept the results so that people start working normally.
He said if it is proved that after the official results that neither the opposition nor the government won outright, there should be a re-run between two candidates who got most votes.
There have been exodus from Zimbabwe by many people fleeing into Malawi, Zambia, South Africa as well as Mozambique.
Most of the people interviewed say they fear for their lives after the Electoral commission has been failing to announce the results of the presidential elections after almost two weeks now.
Chairman of the Southern Africa Development Community(SADC) Levy Mwanawasa called for the crisis meeting after the government of Zimbabwe was failing to announce the results of the Presidential elections.
The leaders also called for proper counting and verification of the presidential results. The Southern Development Community(SADC) is sending a delegation to the oversee the re-counting of the results of the presidential as well as the parliamentary elections .
According to Zimbabwe Electoral Commision(ZEC) the re- counting will be done on Saturday .
The disputed constituencies where there are alleged anomalies are 23 out of the 210 constituencies.
ZEC says the delay in announcing the results of the election is as a result of disparities of results from some polling stations which do not tally with what is officially on the ground.
The opposition in Zimbabwe, particularly, Movement for Democratic Change lead by Morgan Tsvangirae have expressed fear for the recount saying it is a way for Mugabe to rig the vote and prolong his rule.
Pressure has been mounting on Zimbabwe from African leaders as well as from the West to announce the results of the elections.
However, Mugabe had been hitting back telling them that he will not be intimidated by colonialists.
Zimbabwe has at present the highest inflation rate worldwide. Prices of food stuffs have soared and many people have gone into exile.