Zimbabwe: Excerpts from statements by other relevant actors

Updated March 2002

Kenya's President Daniel arap Moi

Kenya's President Daniel arap Moi told Mugabe the victory was a "testimony of the confidence and high esteem the people of Zimbabwe hold you in."

"I convey to Your Excellency and dear brother congratulations and best wishes on your re-election," Moi continued. "I look forward -he then added- to continue working in close solidarity with Your Excellency and dear brother to enhance and broaden our bilateral relations and cooperation in all aspects of development within our region for the mutual benefit of our two peoples."

US Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs

The United States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, Walter Kansteiner said in a statement in Johannesburg that "Zimbabwe's presidential elections of 9-11 March were fundamentally flawed." The Assistant Secretary of State added that "the electoral process from start to finish ignored the norms and standards which govern elections throughout the Southern African Development Community and to which Zimbabwe had committed. Supreme Court rulings were cast aside, the constitution was flaunted, the independent media was persecuted, civil society was marginalised and the will of the people was the chief casualty (Daily News)."

European Union

In an emergency meeting held in Strasbourg, France, members of the European Parliament (MEP's) called for a fresh presidential election in Zimbabwe. This election, they advocated, should be held in the next 12 months and should be observed by the international community. The MEP's have voiced concern at the continued and unhindered travel by Zimbabwean government members to the European countries despite the imposition of sanctions and travel bans. It was decided at this meeting that further measures should be taken to extend the EU's list of banned Zimbabwean government officials and associates. It was also decided that details pertaining to the frozen assets of these banned people should be published and Zimbabwe's drawing rights in international financial institutions be re-examined.

Geoffrey Van Orden, vice chairman of the Parliaments Foreign Affairs Committee, called on leaders in the SADC region not to resume normal diplomatic relations with Zimbabwe, as this would jeopardize the New Program for Africa's Development (NEPAD). Van Orden argued that the Zimbabwean government's intimidation and harassment of opposition parties and the media was not acceptable.