SADC monitors for Zim poll

| Sunday May 26, 2013 00:00

'Why should we be monitored by other countries outside the Southern African Development Community (SADC) when we are a sovereign state?' Vice-President Joice Mujuru was quoted as saying in the Sunday Mail.

The 15-member regional bloc brokered a coalition government between President Robert Mugabe and his arch rival Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai in 2008. Mujuru said countries that have imposed sanctions against Zimbabwe wanted to 'impose themselves on our national election processes to influence the outcome in their favour'.

The European Union this week slightly eased sanctions against Zimbabwe, but the United States has said it will only end restrictions after more reforms.

Zimbabwe's official policy on foreign election observers is unclear. It rejected a report by EU observers which slammed polls in 2000 for violence and not being free and fair. Zimbabweans will vote on March 16, in a referendum over a new constitution.

The charter will be a precursor to July polls to end a shaky Mugabe-Tsvangirai coalition. (SAPA)