Harare (New Ziana) – Britain on Tuesday once again reaffirmed its view that Zimbabwe’s recent general elections were peaceful.
The country went to the polls in August to elect a new president, and parliamentary and local government representatives.
Speaking after meeting ruling Zanu PF party secretary general, Obert Mpofu, British ambassador to Zimbabwe, Peter Voweles said London still maintains its position on the election expressed in August.
“I refer back to my Minister, Minister Mitchel’s statement, the UK’s statement back in September on elections, which commended the peaceful nature under which elections were conducted, but we share some of the concerns raised by some election observer missions,” he said.
He said his talks with Mpofu centred on the elections, specifically assessment of the polls by the Southern African Development Community and other observer missions.
“There are lots of issues we talked about, but I think we batter have those discussions with the government and political parties rather than with the media,” Voweles said.
Mpofu, on his part, said the meeting with the British ambassador was very enriching where they discussed quite a number of issues affecting relations between the two countries, ranging from sanctions, debt clearance issues and other political and environmental issues.
The West, at the behest of Britain, imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe over two decades ago to force it to reverse its land reforms under which excess farmland was seized from white farmers to resettle landless peasants.
In an interview, Zanu PF director of information, Farai Marapira said also touched on Zimbabwe’s re-admission into the British-led Commonwealth group.
He said Zanu-PF took the opportunity to remind Voweles that Britain must lift economic sanctions imposed on the country.
New Ziana
