Zim election a joke - ANCYL

2008-06-30 10:43

Johannesburg - The African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) has called for the outcome of Zimbabwe's one-man presidential election to be set aside.

ANCYL president Julius Malema described last week's election, in which long-time leader Robert Mugabe was the only participant, as a "joke of the worst order".

"The conditions on the ground in Zimbabwe were never conducive to a free and fair election, and the credibility of this election is seriously wanting," Malema said in his closing address at the ANCYL annual congress on Sunday evening.

"To recognise its outcome would be a betrayal of not only our own values, but also of the aspirations of the people of Zimbabwe... What was meant to be a presidential run-off election deteriorated into a joke of the worst order."

Rejected liberation movement values

Malema said Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF had rejected its liberation movement values.

"The outcome of the so-called presidential run-off election must be set aside and both Zanu-PF and MDC [Movement for Democratic Change], alongside organs of civil society must find each other in order to find a lasting solution to Zimbabwe's political and economic challenges," said Malema.

"The cul-de-sac Zimbabwe has reached in its political life means the time has come for a fresh start under the guidance and leadership of a unity government whose mandate must be to rebuild Zimbabwe's political and economic institutions."

Mugabe was inaugurated as president on Sunday, barely an hour after he was declared winner in the run-off elections in which opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai did not participate. He pulled out days before the elections, saying dozens of his supporters had been killed in a campaign against the opposition.

- SAPA