Innocent Mujeri

The Secretary General of South Africa's ruling party, ANC, Fikile Mbalula strongly defended the recent elections in Zimbabwe and emphasized that the primary role of Election Observer Missions is to observe and recommend improvements for future elections rather than imposing external wishes on sovereign nations.

Speaking to the Harare Post yesterday during President Mnangagwa’s swearing in ceremony, Mbalula critiqued some Observer Missions in Zimbabwe, suggesting they overstepped their mandate.

"It is erroneous for Observer Missions in Zimbabwe to impose their desires, side-lining and overlooking the true aspirations of the Zimbabwean people," remarked Mbalula.

"Election Observer Missions should not impose their wishes on Zimbabwe. When we assert that the Zimbabwean elections were free and fair, it isn't a figment of our imagination. Our stance is informed, backed by our own observer team that endorsed the elections as credible,” said Mbalula.

Mbalula accentuated the essence of respecting Zimbabwe's sovereignty, emphasizing that every nation has the prerogative to govern itself without undue external influence.

Drawing attention to the interconnectedness of regional success, Mbalula stated, "Zimbabwe's progress resonates throughout our region. Its prosperity is undeniably tied to the welfare of all Southern African nations."

Mbalula passionately called for the revocation of the sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by western countries, labelling them as "illegal" and emphasizing their detrimental impact on Zimbabwe's development trajectory.

“The persistent call remains: lift the illegal sanctions and let Zimbabwe flourish,” added Mbalula.

Mbalula didn't mince his words when he addressed criticisms from global superpowers. Reflecting on the 2020 tumultuous election in the United States, he noted, "Countries like America have no moral high ground to school Zimbabwe or other African nations on democratic principles. The chaos, disputes, and violence witnessed during their last elections clearly illustrate their own challenges."

Mbalula fervently reaffirmed South Africa's unwavering support for Zimbabwe.

 "South Africa stands shoulder to shoulder with Zimbabwe," he declared.

Predicting a brighter horizon, he expressed optimism about Zimbabwe's future, seeing it as an integral part of the region's collective advancement.