|
Statement of the South African Government
on the Elections in Zimbabwe
The South African Government has noted the outcome
of the Presidential elections in Zimbabwe, and it welcomes
the fact that the actual elections and subsequent processes
have proceeded without any significant conflict among
the participants.
The government has also noted the Preliminary Report
of the SA Observer Mission that the elections should
be considered as legitimate.
President Thabo Mbeki has emphasised that South Africa's
primary objective in this period is to work with the
government of Zimbabwe, whoever is President, in order
to address the critical question of economic reconstruction
and urgently to deal with food shortages. Political
and social stability in Zimbabwe are profoundly in the
interest of the people
of Zimbabwe and that of our own country and region.
President Mbeki will make a comprehensive statement
on the outcome of the elections once he has received
additional reports of the observers, particularly from
the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the
African Union (AU) and the Commonwealth.
South Africa is confident that the people of Zimbabwe
will handle the current period with the calm and maturity
that they so evidently demonstrated during the elections.
13 March 2002
Issued by: Government Communications
Enquiries: Bheki Khumalo on +27 83 256 9133
Ronnie Mamoepa on +27 82 990 4853
|
