24 April 2008
The top Africa envoy for the United States told reporters in South Africa Thursday that Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was the "clear" victor in last month's presidential election.
U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer is visiting southern Africa to consult with the region's governments on Zimbabwe's election crisis. Almost four weeks after Zimbabweans voted in elections on March 29, the government has failed to release the results of presidential polling.
"The most credible results we have today are a clear victory for Morgan Tsvangirai in the first round and maybe a total victory," Frazer said, according to Agence France-Presse. Frazer added that "there should be a change."
Zimbabwe's electoral law requires that a presidential candidate receive more than 50 percent of votes cast to avoid a run-off. Unofficial results and reports have indicated that Tsvangirai received about 50 percent.
According to the Associated Press, Frazer acknowledged the possibility that negotiations between the ruling party, led by President Robert Mugabe, and the opposition may be necessary. "There may need to be a political solution, a negotiated solution," she said.
Reuters reported that Frazer, citing the long delay in releasing results, told reporters: "We now doubt the credibility of any results that would be released."
She added that she supports an arms embargo on Zimbabwe, as proposed by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
Brown and the leader of South Africa's ruling African National Congress, Jacob Zuma, met in London on Thursday. In a joint statement, they called for "an end to any violence and intimidation and stress the importance of respect for the sovereign people of Zimbabwe and the choice they have made at the ballot box."
Copyright © 2008 allAfrica.com. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
Read comments. Write your own.
Some black girl (Jendayi Frazer) from the United States is running wild like a headless chicken in the land of her ancestors! In Kenya, her country of birth dishonored her statements about clear genocide for reasons of economic interests. In Zimbabwe her country is not an election observer and journalists from her country stables are not allowed for their biased reporting. Surprise, surprise, the girl announces a winner, some Morgan Tsvangirai, what a miraculous fortune teller. We like Morgan here in Zimbabwe, he is our presidential aspirant ready to occupy state house if ZEC announces him winner of the just… [Read Full Text]
Why has this got to do with her being a Black girl from the United states? You already lost your argumet with that very first racist statement.Use your logic parliamentary elections results were already officially anounced by ZEC and their version showed a victory for MDC not Zanu. Zanu must concede defeat. Another fact is which voter is going to be stupid enough to vote for MDC for parliament and then switch sides to vote for Mugabe ? There is no logic there. If I am unhappy with a political party how can I support its leaders independently makes no… [Read Full Text]
Democracy must be allow to prevail meaning the will of the people must be the order of the day. You are very short sih sighted to basically attack Jendai Frazer for whose position represent the will of the electorate. President mugagbe needs to go. Days of kingship are gone where one clan of family will pass down power to each other rejecting the will of the majority. Mugabe is a signing example of disgrace to africa and dictatorship. With objection to democracy when will Africa develop? The course of our suffering and underdevelopment is our failure to … [Read Full Text]
Frazer was wrong to issue statements without much evidence. Independent monitors, insiders of ZEC, and others repeatedly stated that there was no clear winner. So why issue a statement that has no evidence. Zimbabwe election commission (ZEC) has both MDC and other oppossition parties and the ruling party. It is not composed entirely of Zanu-pf. Nobody claimed Tsvangirai had the majority win! So, why Frazer issue such a statement.
It is obvious her statement has not moved SADC members, nor has there been a major strike in Zimbabwe. Hyperbolic statements from the Western world excite nobody nowadays. Just look at… [Read Full Text]
Frazer a black girl and I am racist? Nonsense! Look her in the skin; she wears a beautiful black skin like mine. You don’t want blacks to be called black when it solitarily comes to supporting imperialist supremacy – that is racism. It is America that started with Negro acts separating schools and economy according to skin and the logic starts from there. Frazer is YOUNG, BLACK, EDUCATED, and an AMERICAN and all these attributes have some behavioral connotations. The girl has been warped by yesteryear America. Today young people in America no longer wants their government to impede in… [Read Full Text]