A British parliamentary team visiting the country yesterday
met President Emmerson Mnangagwa and expressed optimism the country will hold
free, fair, non-violent and credible elections.
Zimbabwe holds the harmonised elections on July 30. British
Labour Party Member of Parliament Ms Kate Hoey and Conservative Party Member of
Parliament Mr Cornor Burns met President Mnangagwa at his Munhumutapa Offices.
Ms Hoey is also chairperson of All-Party Parliamentary
Group on Zimbabwe while Mr Burns is a parliamentary private secretary to Mr
Boris Johnson, who is a Member of Parliament and British Secretary of State for
Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs.
Ms Hoey described the meeting with President Mnangagwa as
fruitful. “We had a very interesting and useful meeting,” she said.
Ms Hoey said they were in the country to look at how
election processes were going and hear about the issues Zimbabwe had raised
with Britain.
“We want to hear about issues raised with us,” she said. “I
think we find it to be the most useful visit. We are hoping very much that you
are going to have a free and fair election and that we can really start to
re-engage with Zimbabwe again as British Parliament and British government.
“I think we would all like to see a successful election and
we can do what we can to make sure that it is monitored properly. We are
pleased by that. I have been here a number of times and I have seen a number of
changes which I welcome already.”
Ms Hoey said elections would not be possibly free and fair
if they had witnessed violence like what happened with previous polls.
She warned political
leaders to be wary of soft violence.
Ms Hoey said President Mnangagwa had assured them of a
credible election.
Mr Burns said the British government welcomed Harare’s
intention to re-apply for membership of Commonwealth, saying the move was a
powerful signal to the world about the change in the country.
“It is a very important journey,” said Mr Burns, who is
visiting Zimbabwe for the first time. “The step on that journey to re-join the
Commonwealth will be the election you will have in July.
“We welcome the commitment by the President that elections
will be free and fair. We also welcome the Government position to invite
international observers from all over the world, from different organisations
and countries to come and see that process.
“We would love you back in the Commonwealth. It will be
very good for Zimbabwe, it is very good for the Commonwealth.”
Ms Hoey and Mr Burns would be in the country for a few days
and they are expected to travel to Bulawayo today where they will also meet
other political players, civil society, churches and organisations, as well as
talking to people in the streets.
Mr Burns paid tribute to the people of Zimbabwe for their
hospitality saying they had so far met a number of schoolchildren.
Mr Cornor Burns
Mr Cornor Burns
“They were neat and tidy and incredibly polite when we were
speaking to them as we were going around. They are a great tribute and a great
hope for the future of this country.”
President Mnangagwa this week proclaimed July 30 as the
date for harmonised elections to choose the President, National Assembly
members and councillors.
He also fixed September 8, 2018 as the date for the
Presidential election run-off if it becomes necessary while the nomination
court will seat on June 14. Herald
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