COMMENTS by the Permanent Representative of Zimbabwe questioning Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's impartiality toward events in the Southern African nation are “highly inappropriate and unacceptable,” the spokesperson for the United Nations chief has stated.
“There is nothing one-sided about defending the right of the people of Zimbabwe to choose a legitimate government in a free and fair election,” according to a statement issued yesterday by Mr. Ban's spokesperson.
In recent weeks, Mr. Ban has criticized the outcome of the 27 June run-off presidential election in Zimbabwe – which went ahead despite international appeals for a postponement given the violence and intimidation that preceded it – as illegitimate.
“The outcome did not reflect the true and genuine will of the Zimbabwean people or produce a legitimate result,” his spokesperson said in a statement issued following the polls. “The Secretary-General has said repeatedly that conditions were not in place for a free and fair election and observers have confirmed this from the deeply flawed process.”
President Robert Mugabe was sworn in on 29 June for another term after being declared the winner of the run-off, in which he was the sole candidate after violence and intimidation directed towards the opposition forces led to the withdrawal of Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
“The Secretary-General will continue to support efforts to promote talks between both sides in Zimbabwe that can lead to a democratic transition and economic recovery for the people of that country,” yesterday's statement added.
On Friday, Security Council permanent members China and Russia vetoed a draft resolution – along with South Africa, Libya and Viet Nam – that would have imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe, including a travel ban and assets freeze on President Robert Mugabe and 12 other individuals.
UN News Centre
ARTICLE ATTACHMENTS
READER OPINIONS
arthur gonda • artgon@yahoo.com Subject: chief voter Tue, 15 Jul 2008 15:15:36 • through omission and commission, morgiza voted president mugabe into power. no amount of posturing on morgi's part will change that fact. the former is a natural court jester. his miscalculations would be amusing had it not been for the fact that he aspires for the highest political office.
zana mari • njere2003@yahoo.com Subject: Ban Not biased Mon, 14 Jul 2008 19:09:35 • The problem is we have big mouthed people talking on behalf of ordinary Zimbabweans who are suffering
Omugabe, Cathsr and Nixon Gumbo dfo not represent zimbabweans. they must be the perpertrators of violence. How do you justify having a leader imposed on a people. zimbabweans did not vote Mugabe in So we need an election where there would be protected free will. It would be very unfortunate if the world were to succumb to the zimbabwe junta blackmail . because Mbeki has been busy promoting his and mugabe interests we need a netral person to help keep the talks in the correct direction. Why are you so scared of Ban?
Omugabe • Dziva@sanandresano.com Subject: Look Inward & Look East for Self-development, Zim Patriots! Mon, 14 Jul 2008 14:53:36 • What's inappropriate is the European-denominate UN being used as a tool to further European world domination.
And yes! That Korean mental slave is serving the cause of the evil Europeans and their UN.
It does not take much observation and intellectual candle power to recognize that the Korean, Ban, is anti-African in addition to being a biased bigot..
cathsr • cnyahunzvi@yahoo.com Subject: comments by ban ki moon Mon, 14 Jul 2008 08:32:51 • the un secretary general knows nothing about zimbabwe so he is not6 qualified to make the comments he made. he is just parroting the british and american line.we are under siege as a nation. the first step towards democracy is for him to call for the repealing of ZIDERA by the racist Bush regime because that law is affecting us ordinary zimbabweans. if he does not want to do that then mr sec general we don't want your one sided comments and please leave us alone to sort our own problems.where were you when we fought a protracted struggle to free ourselves from the racist britons who together with america were propping up the ian smith settler regime. actually i notice that you have no clue about the real battle that is going on here.this fight is not between tsvangirai and mugabe but between capitalism and the poor masses, neither is it between balck and white. actually it is a battle for control of zimbabwe's vast resources.mugabe is right.we are continuing the fight that we left of in 1979, the battle for the total control of our own resources.i don't doubt that mr sec general you feel that you owe britain and america for endorsing your candidature for the post of un sec general but please spare us! do not try to pawn our hard won freedom and independence for a measly un job.where was the un when iraq was invaded thru false claims of weapons of mass destruction?how people have died and in iraq so far? can you compare the deaths in iraq with those that are claimed to have taken place in zimbabwe?i don't remember the u.n. making any noises about iraq, neither did they make noise on kenya.i wonder who is paying the piper?
Nixon Gumbo • zgum@net.com Subject: Please Mr ban Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:01:36 • Mr n has no say in the UN.he is a mouthpiece for the US.semshe is no better tht Koffi Annan.
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