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Zim good stories 'not worthy'
11/03/2008 09:52 - (SA)
Pretoria - A "virulent and vicious" smear campaign was being waged against Zimbabwe over the list of observers invited to witness the country's elections on March 29, the country's ambassador to South Africa Simon Moyo said on Monday.
The campaign was being driven by the West and certain sections of the South African media, he said in a statement.
"Much of the recent criticism is certainly not out of ignorance of the facts, but out of sheer malice," Moyo said. The country's detractors were "trumpeting British falsehoods" about the election process.
"It is therefore disheartening, but not surprising that certain sections of the media, unfortunately including the SA Broadcasting Corporation, have chosen to ignore the facts obtaining on the ground.
"We are now too familiar that whatever good and positive happens in Zimbabwe can never pass as newsworthy as long as such stories do not fit into the well-known and publicly acknowledge broad agenda of 'regime change'," Moyo said.
He said election observers were invited on basis of reciprocity as well as their objectivity and impartiality.
"Our list of invitees excludes those countries with preconceived ideas who believe that the only free and fair election is where the opposition wins," he said.
Moyo said that among organisations invited to send observers were the African Union, the Southern African Development Community and the Non-Aligned Movement.
The only country in Europe to be invited was the Russian Federation. All diplomats, including those from the West, accredited to Zimbabwe on a full-time basis could observe the polls.
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