Tutu puts pressure on Zim election observers

RETIRED Anglican bishop of South Africa, archbishop Desmond Tutu has said various observer missions sent to Zimbabwe by regional governing organisations are faced with a big challenge of presenting a credible election report to the world.
 

Speaking in Midrand, South Africa where he was awarded a gold medal by the Public Relations Institute of SA (Prisa) for raising the profile and reputation of South Africa, Archbishop Tutu said the observatory missions should give a guarantee that the elections were free and fair and were conducted in an environment where people expressed their views without intimidation.
 
“Knowing that intimidation preceded the elections, I hope observers will be able to guarantee that elections are credible,” he said.
 
Zimbabweans go to the polls on March 29 to elect a new government in harmonized polls which will be observed by 47 ‘friendly organizations and countries’ which were selected by the government.
 
Observers from the European Union, United States of America (USA) and other western countries have been barred from observing the poll.
 
Meanwhile, an African Union (AU) observer mission has arrived in the country just two days before the crucial poll.