Following the recent elections in Zimbabwe, the Minister of State for Africa, Harriett Baldwin, said: The UK was encouraged that Zimba...
Following the recent elections in Zimbabwe, the Minister of
State for Africa, Harriett Baldwin, said:
The UK was encouraged that Zimbabweans turned out in record
numbers to vote in the elections on 30 July, and particularly the increase in
first-time voters, including many young, urban Zimbabweans, who found
themselves excluded from previous electoral rolls.
While polling day
passed off peacefully, a number of concerns have been raised by observer
missions, particularly about the pre-election environment, the role of state
media, and the use of state resources. There is much to be done to build confidence
in Zimbabwe’s electoral process.
The UK remains
deeply concerned by the violence following the elections and the
disproportionate response from the security forces. We have urged all parties
to work together to ensure calm. It is vital that any appeals against the
results or the process are handled swiftly and impartially. All candidates have
a responsibility to ensure their supporters act with restraint and avoid
violence, while any challenges to the results are resolved.
We will continue to work with the Government and the
Zimbabwean people to support democracy and good governance, help with the
country’s development, and promote regional security and prosperity. The UK
remains a close partner of the Zimbabwean people in their quest for a better
future.
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