U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, has released the following state...
U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), chairman of the Senate
Foreign Relations Subcommittee on African Affairs, has released the following
statement on the July 30, 2018 election in Zimbabwe:
“Over the past several days, I have had the privilege of
observing Zimbabwe’s historic elections. After decades of misrule by Robert
Mugabe, Zimbabwe deserves to have a government worthy of its people.
“After a day of peaceful voting on July 30th, the violence
on August 1st that claimed the lives of at least six people and injured many
more was a throwback to the old days. The use of the Zimbabwean military to
respond to political protests, or the use of the police force to disrupt press
conferences, does not signal a new era, rather it echoes a dreadful past.
“In order to instill confidence in the election results,
the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission must now make good on its commitment to
release comprehensive polling data in a transparent manner that includes
results from each polling station signed off by party agents who were present
for the casting of ballots and the tabulation of results. Challenges to the
results must be pursued through legal channels.
“During my visit to nearly a dozen polling stations
scattered throughout rural Zimbabwe, I saw citizens, some young and agile,
others bent with age, walking miles for the chance to cast a vote that
mattered. I saw representatives of ZANU PF and MDC Alliance sitting together,
chatting amicably and helping each other keep proper tallies. In everyone I
encountered, I saw the hope for a brighter, more democratic and prosperous
future for Zimbabwe.
“Here’s hoping that future is at hand.”
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