Accept ruling, US tells parties
THE United States and Australia have urged political parties to accept the Constitutional Court ruling that upheld President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa’s July 30 poll victory.
Washington and Canberra also encouraged political parties to work together for development.
In a statement on Friday, US state department spokesperson Ms Heather Nauert said, “The United States urges all parties to respect the Zimbabwean Constitution and the rule of law. Violence and unlawful activity should not be part of the political process and those responsible for such transgressions must be held accountable.”
Washington, she said, was prepared to work with President Mnangagwa’s Government, as well as other social actors to improve living conditions.
Australia’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Ms Bronte Moules, called for peace following Friday’s ConCourt ruling.
“Following the August 24 decision of the Zimbabwe Constitutional Court, which declared Emmerson D Mnangagwa the winner of the Presidential election, Australia encourages all parties and stakeholders to work together peacefully and purposefully on the political economic electoral and human rights reforms which are needed to take the country forward.
“As a friend of Zimbabwe we urge commitment by all in words and in practises to national unity, democracy and rule of law.”
Both the US and Australia deployed observer missions to the July 30 harmonised elections.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Amalgamated Council of Churches yesterday said it was willing to engage losing Presidential hopeful Mr Nelson Chamisa in the same way it engaged former President Mr Robert Mugabe to persuade him to embrace peace and support Government’s development efforts.
Reverend George Manongwa added that it was incumbent on Mr Chamisa to denounce US sanctions on Zimbabwe.
Bishop Albert Chikuni weighed in: “As Christians, we have values. People should also adhere to values such as unity, peace, love and forgiveness. In the Bible (Genesis 11:6), God even shows the value and power of unity. Although we have God-given resources, it is entirely upon us to work together to exploit them for the benefit of the country. We, therefore, must bury our differences.”
Zacc patron Mr Jimayi Muduvuri thanked President-elect Mnangagwa for guaranteeing peace and delivering a peaceful, free, fair and credible poll.
Mr Chamisa, the ZACC patron said, should not allow himself to be used to destabilise the country.
“The Church is saying he shouldn’t be used to destabilise the country. The court made a clear ruling that Zanu-PF is the indisputable winner of the justended elections and the country must move on,” he said.