In a letter to President Levi Mwanawasa of Zambia members of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Zimbabwe urged President Mwanawasa to uphold the principle that in a democracy the sovereignty of the people belongs to the people.
Amongst those who signed the letter are former cabinet minister Shirley Williams and Nelson Mandela’s defence lawyer Joel Joffe.
President Mwanawasa who is Chairman of SADC has convened a summit of Southern African leaders in Lusaka, the Zambian capital, to discuss the crisis in Zimbabwe. SADC protocols commit member states to high standards of electoral conduct and respect for democratic and human rights. Results of the presidential election have still not announced by the Zimbawe Electoral Commission more than twelve days after the poll. Both Morgan Tsvangirai and Robert Mugabe are expected to attend the gathering in Zambia.
Full Text of letter:
House of Commons
Westminster
SW1A 0AA
11th April 2008
Dear President Mwanawasa
We write as members of the United Kingdom parliament and of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Zimbabwe. We warmly welcome your decision as Chairman of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to call a SADC Extraordinary Summit on Zimbabwe in Lusaka on Saturday 12th April 2008.
We have waited anxiously for the announcement of the result of the presidential election in Zimbabwe. We are deeply disappointed that even now no results have been made available by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. On Saturday the eyes of the world will be fixed on your meeting in Zambia.
Zimbabwe is a sovereign state. In a democracy that sovereignty belongs to the people. They have demonstrated their faith in democracy by waiting for hours, often in difficult conditions, to cast their vote. We urge you and the assembled representatives of your SADC partners gathered in Lusaka to uphold that sovereignty in accordance with the SADC principles for the conduct of democratic elections.
Yours respectfully,
Kate Hoey MP
Ed Davey MP
Sally Keeble MP
John Bercow MP
Rt Hon Shirley Williams (Baroness Williams of Crosby)
Joel Joffe (Lord Joffe)
Daphne Park (Baroness Park of Monmouth)
Frank Judd (Lord Judd)
Post published in: News