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Tutu: Zim observers' tough task
26/03/2008 22:33 - (SA)
Johannesburg - Observer missions sent to Zimbabwe by regional governing organisations are faced with a big challenge of presenting a credible election report to the world, Archbishop Desmond Tutu said on Wednesday.
"They should give a guarantee that the elections were free and fair and were conducted in an environment where people expressed their views without intimidation," Tutu said.
He was speaking in Midrand, where he was awarded a gold medal by the Public Relations Institute of SA (Prisa) for raising the profile and reputation of South Africa.
"Knowing the extent of intimidation that preceded the elections, I hope observers would be able to guarantee that elections were credible."
The Archbishop has in the past criticised the Zimbabwean government for violation of human rights.
He infuriated President Robert Mugabe in 2004, leading him to say Tutu was "an angry, evil and embittered little bishop".
Tutu said he did not foresee a change in Zimbabwe but it was upon Zimbabweans to change their situation.
"I wish they get a leader they deserve. They do not want a continuation of the status quo. No one in the world would want to live with a situation where inflation was beyond the means of living," he said.
In accepting the award, Tutu said awards were given to distinct individuals and he did not think he deserved it.
"When you are a leader and stand out of a crowd it's because you are on their shoulders."
He said it was nonsense to speak of a leader without followers so he accepted the award representatively of all South Africans.
Tutu was the ninth person to receive the Prisa Gold Medal award.
Other recipients include: Gary Player, Chris Barnard, Mark Shuttleworth, former president FW de Klerk and Nelson Mandela.
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