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Zimbabwe 'extremely peaceful'
25/06/2008 09:15 - (SA)
Luanda - Zimbabwe's foreign minister said on Tuesday his country was "extremely peaceful" and rejected the opposition leader's claims that violence had made a fair presidential run-off vote impossible, state media said here.
"The situation in Zimbabwe is extremely peaceful despite reports from certain Western media saying that Zimbabwe is tumultuous," said Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, cited by Angola's ANGOP news agency. "This is not true."
His comments followed a meeting with Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos. He also handed a letter to Dos Santos from Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, though its contents were not made public, the news agency said.
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has withdrawn from Friday's run-off election, saying he could not ask supporters to risk their lives by casting ballots.
Mugabe's regime has said it is moving ahead with plans for the vote anyway, defying international calls to postpone it.
"The political campaign is following its own course, so it makes no sense what some voices are saying that there are no conditions for going ahead with the run-off," said Mumbengegwi.
He said violence that had occurred was confined to certain areas and the opposition was responsible for it.
The minister claimed Tsvangirai had opted out of the race because he knew he would lose. The opposition leader beat Mugabe in the March 29 first round, but with an official vote total just short of an outright majority.
"Nobody pulls out of elections if he thinks he can win," said Mumbengegwi.
"He is trying to outmanoeuvre after seeing on the ground that he will not win. These elections will take place and we will have a smashing victory."
The foreign minister said he held talks with Dos Santos since the Angolan president is the current chair of policy and security for the 14-nation Southern African Development Community.
Dos Santos issued a rare rebuke to Mugabe last week, urging the Zimbabwean leader "to stop the violence and intimidation" ahead of the run-off election.
- AFP
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