The Financial Gazette
By Financial Gazette Reporter
8 August 2013
“THE conduct of the election… has been peaceful, orderly, free and fair,†Olusegun Obasanjo, head of the African Union’s observer mission and former Nigerian president.
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“(President Jacob) Zuma urges all political parties in Zimbabwe to accept the outcome of the elections, as election observers reported it to be an expression of the will of the people,†South African government statement.
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“This election was free and very, very peaceful. We did not say it was fair because we didn’t want to jump to conclusions… we did not say the election was fair. Within 30 days, the question of fairness will come,†Bernard Membe, head of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) observer mission, presenting the bloc’s preliminary statement.
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“I believe the election was free and fair. I hope the (observer) reports would vindicate me,†Zimbabwe Electoral Commission chairperson, Rita Makarau.
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“The MDC totally rejects the 31 July elections on the basis of (a) the process (b) the absence of reforms. From the evidence available, discounting all omissions and commissions the MDC won  that election…Given the illegality of this election, the MDC national council resolved that it will not legitimise institutions created by an illegal election and therefore will not engage in institutions of government,â€Â outgoing Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
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“The route they (MDC-T) are taking will ensure that their political carriers are buried and buried forever,†Defence Minister and ZANU-PF’s secretary for legal affairs Emmerson Mnangagwa.
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“The country had to decide whether to turn left or right, to move forward or back, to be swallowed into the beast of the Western countries or stay outside the mouth of the beast. The people have spoken… He makes the point the election was a farce, a sham election. Really? When 3,95 million people go to vote in cold weather, you call it a sham and a farce?†Patrick Chinamasa, Justice and Legal Affairs Minister and ZANU-PF deputy secretary for legal affairs.
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“These are trying times of extreme national anxiety. The MDC leadership has deliberately refrained from speaking prematurely on the outcomes of the election until such time that we have all the facts. The MDC leadership is studying the official results and reports from its candidates, election and polling agents from across the country with a view to making a comprehensive statement and drawing parameters for the way forward,†the Welshman Ncube led MDC press statement.
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“Elections need two ingredients to be valid – freeness and fairness. Zimbabwe made progress on the first but utterly failed on the second… If ZANU-PF had shown finesse and only given themselves a 54 percent majority it may have been credible. Ironically the landslide exposes the fraud,†David Coltart outgoing Education Minister and MDC secretary for legal affairs.
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“We did not lose this election. We fought a good fight, none more than Morgan Tsvangirai. I must, however, say that of all our experience, nothing could have prepared us for the 2013 election and the systematic and scientific dismembering of the people s wishes…We live in troubled times. But stay bold, stay clean, keep the faith. These are our times,†outgoing Finance Minister and MDC-T secretary general Tendai Biti.
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“The Botswana observer team has reported that the election day itself was free of overt intimidation and violence. However, various incidents and circumstances were revealed that call into question whether the entire electoral process, and thus its final result, can be recognised as having been fair, transparent and credible in the context of the SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections within the community. That is why the SEOM described the elections as ‘free and peaceful’ as opposed to “free and fair,†the latter being the criteria for credible elections,†statement by Botswana government.
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“The people of Zimbabwe should be commended for rejecting violence and showing their commitment to the democratic process. But make no mistake: in light of substantial electoral irregularities reported by domestic and regional observers, the United States does not believe that the results announced today represent a credible expression of the will of the Zimbabwean people. Though the United States was restricted from monitoring these elections, the balance of evidence indicates that today’s announcement was the culmination of a deeply flawed process,†John Kerry United States secretary of state.
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“It is the NCA’s (National Constitutional Assembly) firm view that the complaints raised against the 31 July 2013 poll by the losers do not raise anything new and cannot be used as a basis for rejecting the results of an election in which they participated voluntarily. It is not desirable to encourage a state of affairs in our country where political parties participate
in an election with only two scenarios: either they win or they dispute the result. Losing must always be one of the scenarios. In the circumstances of this particular election, the complaints must be taken into account for the next elections and for the reform agenda which remains very much incomplete,†Lovemore Madhuku NCA chairperson.
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“Now is the time for all Zimbabweans’ to work together . . . together we can do it,†Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn statement.
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“Some of my supporters have asked why I am not seeking a recount in such a tight race. My answer is that I do not want a recount against the MDC -T. For all our differences our battle has never been against our brothers and sisters in the MDC -T but against this treacherous ZANU-PF regime which has done so much damage to our beloved nation. If I had had such a narrow loss against a ZANU-PF candidate I would not have hesitated to ask for a recount,†Coltart on his defeat.