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afrol News leader, 13 March - While all other independent sources establish that the Zimbabwean elections were rigged, the South African observers conclude the poll was well organised by "African standards". The statement says more about the political orders given to the observers from Pretoria than about African standards. If this poll was to set African standards, the continent might have to accelerate its independence from the outside world. Non-African international sanctions on Zimbabwe are bound to increase as a natural consequence of the open disrespect of basic democracy standards. Other African despotic or potentially despotic regimes will certainly not be encouraged to follow in Mugabe's footsteps by the international community; even if Thabo Mbeki's South African government holds his protecting hand over Mugabe. The outcome of the Zimbabwean presidential election "should be considered legitimate," the South African Observer Mission (SAOM) said today from Harare, Zimbabwe. "Overall ... the authorities charged with conducting the elections discharged their work satisfactorily," SAOM leader Sam Motsuenyane said in an interim statement. Tim Boya of the Mission added the elections in Zimbabwe had passed "in the same way, if not even better" than in other African countries. - We are hopeful that now that the people of Zimbabwe have spoken, the world will respect their verdict, the South African Mission's report concludes, leaving no doubt about the political motivations behind this statement. Against these South African statements stand the conclusions of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) observer mission reporting that the election was "not transparent." The Zimbabwe Election Support Network's spokesman today said the poll "certainly was not free and fair." The Norwegian Observer Mission, two and a half times the size of the South African, concluded on "a pattern of intimidation and violence ... harassment of polling agents and domestic observers," and said the officials organising the elections were "lacking convincing independence and integrity," in its preliminary statement. The South African government's role in the Zimbabwe crisis grows more dubious each time. The biased report by the SAOM leaves no doubt it has written its report under government influence. The objectives are clear - to create alternative views to the massive condemnation of the election. The rhetoric of Thabo Mbeki's government has fallen into the racial biased language trap introduced by President Mugabe. Mbeki strongly defended Mugabe at the recent Commonwealth meeting, which was discussing possible sanctions against Zimbabwe. As the Commonwealth already had shown a split between African countries and a British-Canadian-Australian led block, Mugabe warned of a split between a black commonwealth and a white commonwealth. Mbeki last week stroke back on the critics against his government's defence of Mugabe, using the same language. He was tired of the use of the "the historic black-white divide" when his government was criticised on its Zimbabwe policy. Of course, Mbeki forgot to mention that the "black and white split" over Zimbabwe had been articulated by Mugabe, not by the white "racists" criticising him. "Those inspired by notions of white supremacy should leave the Commonwealth," Mbeki concluded. - We will have to work with Zimbabwe to help deal with the land question and economic recovery, Mbeki commented on the situation in Zimbabwe today. "Those are the two principles that will define the relation between South Africa and Zimbabwe, whoever is the president of Zimbabwe," the South African President said. There was no mention of human rights at all. The South African Observer Mission's interim statement strongly indicates Zimbabwe's southern, powerful neighbour will continue to support the Harare government at all costs. And the costs are high, for Zimbabwe, for South Africa and for the African continent. Zimbabwe is assured a further economic dissolution under Mugabe's rule and international sanctions. South Africa is already hit by a crumbling currency and halt in international investments due to the Zimbabwe crisis. The African continent, by its leading statesman Mbeki defending Mugabe, is loosing international goodwill and credibility. Investments in Africa are definitively advised against if the Zimbabwean elections are to set African standards. Cooperation is set to decline, as shown by the new Danish policy of withdrawing from countries not playing by the rules - a policy believed to set European and American standards. The strong dedication of the Zimbabwean people to change its government - although it has been denied them so far - however gives hope that Africa might keep on track. Mugabe's and Mbeki's campaigns of bad marketing for the democracy-hungering continent overshadow the positive developments experienced in so many of the myriad of 54 countries on the continent. What a petty Nelson Mandela did not cling to power. But of course - he was a true democrat.
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