The United Nations said Mugabe had rejected on an appeal by the winning presidential candidate Morgan Tsvangirai to permit the world body’s observers to coordinate all foreign observer missions.
“For any electoral process to receive the stamp of moral authority from the international community, it needs recognition from the United Nations,” said spokesman Nelson Chamisa. “Zanu (PF) is afraid of international observers because they know that they are thieves.”
Zanu (PF) elections spokesman Patrick Chinamasa said the foreign ministry would still use its discretion to invite other observers from “friendly countries.”
Observers from the African Union and SADC will monitor the poll. They declared the March 29 poll free and fair, despite both main contesting parties having declared it fraudulent.
“We are going back there to see whether conditions exist for a free expression of will by electors,” Jose Marcos Barrica, head of the SADC observer mission said this week.
Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, head of the 57-member AU observer group, said the UN barring was regrettable but “we will carry on.” – Staff reporter
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