Critics denounce 'unfair' Zimbabwe election

Election observers are split on the fairness of the poll

Western nations and election observers have criticised the way the hotly contested Zimbabwean election, in which President Robert Mugabe retained power, was run.

But by contrast, some African election observers have said the poll was substantially free and fair.

No matter who won or lost, it was astounding how many guidelines in the run-up to the election were ignored

Walter Kansteiner
US Assistant Secretary of State for African affairs

The US Assistant Secretary of State for African affairs, Walter Kansteiner, called for targeted sanctions against Mr Mugabe, saying: "It is a fundamental notion that an election should be free and fair - in this case it wasn't.

"No matter who won or lost, it was astounding how many guidelines in the run-up to the election were ignored. The vast majority were not observed."

France's foreign ministry echoed those sentiments, saying: "France finds, along with independent Zimbabwean observers, that this election cannot be considered substantially free and fair."

Mugabe: Fifth term of office beckons

The British Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, said the government of Mr Mugabe had for months carried out a campaign of violence and intimidation to maintain his grip on power.

He said Mr Mugabe owed victory to a "systematic campaign of violence and intimidation".

Mr Straw said the campaign had been implemented over a period of months "to achieve one outcome - power at all costs".

But he stopped short of refusing to recognise the result.

But the election has been condemned by Western observers, who said tens of thousands of people, mostly in the opposition stronghold of Harare, were unable to vote.

European Union officials said that while a final assessment has yet to be made there was concern over the fairness of the election.

Schori: "A violation of the people of Zimbabwe"

"There is no information reaching us that points to a satisfactory election," EU spokeswoman Emma Udwin.

Pierre Schori, the head of the EU observer mission that was expelled from Zimbabwe, said he did not consider the election free and fair.

"Rather, it is a violation of the people of Zimbabwe," he said.

Mr Schori said the consequences of the election would depend largely on the reactions of neighbouring countries.

"They naturally have both the biggest responsibility and the biggest cause for concern that a chaotic situation may arise," he said.

And UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said he was anxious about the situation in Zimbabwe, calling on Zimbabweans to remain calm and to disavow acts of violence and retribution.

South African election monitors in Zimbabwe said the election should be considered legitimate and the South African President, Thabo Mbeki, said his country would work with Zimbabwe to help deal with the issues of land ownership and economic recovery.

A 16-member group of Nigerian observers in Zimbabwe has also endorsed Mr Mugabe's victory, saying it had "recorded no incidence that was sufficient to threaten the integrity and outcome of the election, in areas monitored by the team".

An observer team from the Organisation for African Unity (OAU) said the elections, in general, were "transparent, credible, free and fair".

Congo rebels' hopes dashed

The BBC's Jonathan Marcus says the election result has widened a split amongst the countries of the Commonwealth that emerged during the run-up to the vote.

He says the differences of opinion over the fairness of the election go right to the heart of the identity of the Commonwealth as a group of democratic nations and could be of considerable significance to its future.

Rebels from the Democratic Republic of Congo said Mr Mugabe's victory was bad news for efforts to end the war in their country, where Zimbabwean troops are fighting on the side of the government.

"If Tsvangirai had won the elections at least we would have gotten some assurance that Zimbabwe will withdraw its troops, but Mugabe will retain his interests in the Congo, by which we of course mean his mineral interests," secretary general of the Congolese Liberation Movement Olivier Kamitatu said.