Let will of Zimbabweans prevail – ANC’s Mbalula

Harare (New Ziana) – Observers to Zimbabwe’s recent elections must respect the will of the people, a senior African National Congress (ANC) official said on Tuesday.

Speaking to journalists after meeting his Zanu PF counterpart Obert Mpofu, ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula said Zimbabwe’s elections which saw President Mnangagwa clinching another victory, had concluded.

“One of the most important things about this election is it was not marred by violence. It was very peaceful and people came out in their numbers,” he said.

“The campaigning was very vibrant and the Zimbabwean people have spoken and the democratic outcome must be respected. Should anyone dispute the election, Zimbabwe has got a constitution. It’s a sovereign country; disputes must be settled within the Zimbabwe dispensation,” he said.

Mbalula took a swipe at the conduct of some election observers saying Zimbabwe was not mandated to accept their views about the polls.

“We know that there are observers who have raised their own views about how the elections have been conducted, they are entitled to that but they must respect the sovereignty of the country. And you do not impose your will on another country. You simply raise your views for the country to respond to those observations that can also be disputed by those who run the elections,” he said.

“So Zimbabwe’s electoral commission ran the elections and pronounced on the outcome of the elections and we respect the will of the people. That’s what is important,” he said.

Mbalula added: “At the end of the day, the ANC subscribes to the sovereignty of nations. The ANC is against the regime change agenda which has been perpetuated by our political fools in the world who even in South Africa want ANC to be out of power through the agenda of regime change sponsoring NGOs and all that.”

New Ziana