Membe delivers SADC's Final Report on Zimbabwe's elections

Hon. Minister Bernard K. Membe (MP), Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation delivers the final report on the Zimbabwe's elections that took place on 31st of July, 2013.  

Hon. Membe has been the Head of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Electoral Observer Mission on behalf of the former Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, His Excellency Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Repulic of Tanzania. 

Some members of Diplomatic Corps and other Senior Government Officials from both Tanzania and Zimbabwe were present during the delivery of the final report.  

Membe delivers SADC's Final Report on the Zimbabwe’s Elections

By Tagie Daisy Mwakawago

Harare, Zimbabwe

“We want to reiterate again that the harmonized elections of the 31st of July were free and expressed the will of the people,” said Tanzania Foreign Minister Bernard K. Membe earlier today while delivering the SADC final report on the Zimbabwe’s Elections.

He further explained that President Robert Mugabe won the elections with flying colors, despite the media polarization and the delay of voters roll. 

Minister Membe was speaking at a press conference that was also attended by cabinet ministers, representatives of political parties and members of the diplomatic corps who had gathered at the Rainbow Towers Hotel and Conference Centre in Harare to witness the delivery of the SADC Election Observer Mission to Zimbabwe final report of which he was a Leader.

This SADC final report comes after the preliminary report issued on the 2nd of August 2013, which was issued by Minister Membe on behalf of the then Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation, President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete.

“As you may recall, the main message in the preliminary report was that the elections in Zimbabwe were free and peaceful,” explained Hon. Membe. Previously, the SADC observer mission for the 31 July elections judged the vote as free and peaceful, but had not yet commented on its fairness and credibility aspect until today.

The Minister arrived yesterday night in Harare International Airport, and was received by Zimbabwean Foreign Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi and other Senior Government Officials.  The chief goal of the trip was to submit the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Electoral Observer Mission final report, based upon the presidential elections that took place on July 31st, 2013.  Tanzania was a former Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation under the Chairmanship of His Excellency Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Repulic of Tanzania. 

“We were required as chair of the monitoring team of the SADC Election Observer Mission to deliver a report outlining the outcome of the process and also commending the nature of the elections,” said Hon. Membe.   The report will be delivered today at 10 a.m. local time in Harare.

President Robert Mugabe had landslide won the elections with 61 percent of the presidential votes and 76 percent of the parliamentary seats, leaving behind MDC-T Leader Mr. Morgan Tsvangirai with 33 percent.  The win extends President Mugabe yet another five years in addition to the already 33-year rule.

Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangira’s MDC party had recently withdrawn a legal challenge to the elections, claiming the courts would not be fair.

Answering reporters questions regarding the fairness of the elections, Minister Membe said that the SEOM has put forth a wide range of recommendations that include the need for the state media to provide equal opportunity to all competing parties in future elections.  “There must be a fair and balanced reporting,” highlighted the Minister.

On the issue of pirate tv and radio stations, Minister Membe strongly condemned the interference of the political process by broadcasters outside Zimbabwe.

Previously, the African Union Election Mission Head Olusegun Obasanjo, former Nigerian President called the Zimbabwe election as free and peaceful.   

Meanwhile, the Southern African Heads of State and Government recently endorsed the Zimbabwe elections during the 33rd Summit in Lilongwe, Malawi and called for the lifting of the sanctions against Zimbabwe. 

SADC had deployed 573 observers to monitor the Zimbabwe elections, whereby it endorsed the elections as free and peaceful and that it had wholly reflected the will of the people of Zimbabwe.

End.

SADC delivers the final report on Zimbabwe’s elections

Mr. Robert Kahendaguza, the Acting Director of the Department of Regional Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomes Hon. Minister Bernard K. Membe (MP), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation to deliver the final report of the SADC Observer Mission to the Zimbabwe Elections (SEOM), earlier today in Harare.

Minister Membe listens to Mr. Kahendaguza, prior to his deliverance of the final report of the SEOM. 

Hon. Minister Membe delivers final report of the SADC Electoral Observer Mission in Zimbabwe earlier today at the Rainbow Towers Hotel and Conference Centre in Harare. 

Listening on are Cabinet Ministers and Members of Diplomatic Corps that include Hon. Simbarashe Mumbengegwi (4th left), Foreign Minister of Zimbabwe.   

Also in the audience is Ambassador Adadi Rajab (right) of the United Republic of Tanzania in Zimbabwe.

Ambassador George Mwanjabala (first left), former Ambassador of Tanzania to Zambia. Sitting behind is Mr. Isaac E. Mwakiluma (right), Minister Plenipotentiary at the Tanzania Embassy in Zimbabwe.

 Retired Ambassador David Kapya (2nd right) and Dr. Harold Utouh (3rd right). 

 Hon. Membe expresses on how the recent Zimbabwean elections were free, peaceful and credible. 

Minister Membe addresses the audience during the press conference. 

Commenting on is one of the members of the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission.

Hon. Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Foreign Minister of Zimbabwe shares few laughters with Zimbabwean Electoral Commission Chairperson Justice Rita Makarau (right) and Deputy ZEC Chair Joyce Kazembe (center).

Minister Membe exchanges views with one of the members of Diplomatic Corps in Zimbabwe.

Hon. Membe shares a moment with one of the ZEC members and one of the members of the Diplomatic Corps. 

The two Foreign Ministers from Tanzania and Zimbabwe took time to exchange views after the delivery of the Final REport on Zimbabwe's Elections.

All photos by Tagie Daisy Mwakawago 

Minister Membe in Zimbabwe to submit SADC Electoral Observer Mission Report

Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP), conducting an interview with National News Reporter upon his arrival at the Harare International Airport in Zimbabwe this evening (September 1, 2013). 

Hon. Membe is in Zimbabwe to submit a Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Electoral Observer Mission Report, based upon the presidential elections that took place on July 31st, 2013.  Tanzania was a former Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation under the Chairmanship of His Excellency Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Repulic of Tanzania. 

President Kikwete officially constituted the SADC Electoral Observer Mission (SEOM) to the Republic of Zimbabwe and mandated the former SADC Executive Secretary, Dr.Tomáz Salamão to facilitate the administrative and logistical support for the Mission.  President Kikwete as a Chairperson of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation further appointed Hon. Bernard K. Membe (MP), Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation of the United Republic of Tanzania, to head the Mission.

The SEOM was officially launched in Harare, Zimbabwe, on March 10th, 2013.

Hon. Membe exchanges views with Ambassador Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Republic of Namibia. 

Hon. Membe in a discussion with Hon. Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, Foreign Minister of Zimbabwe.   

H.E. Robert Mugabe was elected to his seventh term as President of Zimbabwe with 61%, leaving his opponent Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai with 34% of votes, according to the election commission in Zimbabwe.

Hon. Bernard K. Membe (center) in a preparatory meeting with Tanzania team of SEOM and the representative from Namibia (the current Chair of the SADC Organ on Politics, Defence, and Security Cooperation).  Left is Ambassador Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Republic of Namibia and Ambassador George Mwanjabala, former Ambassador of Tanzania to Zambia. 

Ambassador David Kapya (right), SEOM observer from Tanzania was also present during the meeting.

Other delegation from Tanzania included Mr. Paul Patience Maokola (right), Project Director - Mtama Constituency, Dr. Harold Martin Lemnge Utouh (2nd right), Senior Lecturer in International Economics, Mr. Robert Kahendaguza (3rd right), Acting Director of the Department of Regional Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ambassador Adadi Rajab (left), High Commissioner of the United Republic of Tanzania in Zimbabwe.

All photos by Tagie Daisy Mwakawago

M23 yachakazwa

M23 yachakazwa

Na Habari Leo

KIKUNDI cha waasi cha M23 kinachopambana na jeshi la Jamhuri ya Kidemokrasia ya Kongo (DRC), kimeripotiwa kupigwa vibaya na kutikisa nguvu za kikundi hicho kutokana na baadhi ya wapiganaji wake kuripotiwa kupoteza maisha.

Mapigano baina ya M23 na Jeshi la Serikali ya DRC linalosaidiwa na Kikosi Maalumu cha Kulinda Amani cha Umoja wa Mataifa (MONUSCO), yameibuka upya ndani ya wiki hii.

Habari za kiintelijensia ambazo gazeti hili limezipata zinasema kuwa, kutokana na shambulio hilo, Serikali ya Rwanda imelazimika kuingilia kati kusaidia waasi hao kwa kupeleka bataliani mbili zenye jumla ya askari 1,700 huko DRC, ili waweze kukabiliana na nguvu ya majeshi ya DRC, Monusco na Brigedi ya Majeshi ya Kulinda Amani ya Umoja wa Mataifa yenye mamlaka ya kujibu mapigo (FIB).

Kwa mujibu wa vyanzo hivyo vya habari, Rwanda imepeleka bataliani hizo mbili zenye askari 850 kila moja saa 24 zilizopita na kwamba wamevuka mpaka kuingia DRC katika eneo la Kibumba, lakini wanashindwa kusonga mbele.

Habari zaidi zinasema sababu ya Rwanda kupeleka askari wake hao ni kusaidia M23 ambao walipigwa sana Agosti 23 na 27, mwaka huu katika eneo la vilima vya Kibati na haijulikani kama kweli waasi hao wako katika eneo hilo au wamekwishakimbia kutokana na kipigo walikichopata.

“M23 walitandikwa sana Agosti 23 na 27 katika eneo la vilima vya Kibati, na wala haijulikani kama wapo hai au vipi, ndio maana sasa hivi Rwanda imepeleka batalioni zao kuwapa nguvu, lakini wanashindwa kusonga mbele maana hawajielewi kwa sababu ya kipigo walichopata,” kilisema chanzo kimoja cha habari.

Kwa mujibu wa vyanzo hivyo vya habari, eneo la Kibati ndilo eneo kubwa la M23 ambalo wamekuwa wakitumia kuhifadhi silaha zao za kivita, lakini wakati wa mapambano majeshi ya DRC, MUNUSCO na FIB yalisambaratisha kabisa ngome hiyo ya waasi.

FIB inaundwa na askari wengi wa Afrika Kusini na Tanzania. Habari zaidi zinasema kwa sasa majeshi ya DRC, Monusco na FIB yanawasubiri kwa hamu askari hao wa Rwanda kuingia uwanja wa vita ili kukabiliana nao kama walivyokabiliana na waasi wa M23.

“Taarifa tulizonazo hivi sasa Rwanda inajiuliza iwapo isonge mbele kupambana au irudi nyuma, ikifikiria pia kipigo walichopata M23,” kilisema chanzo kimoja cha habari.

Inaelezwa kwamba, kutokana na kipigo walichopata M23 siku chache zilizopita kimepelekea Rwanda kujikuta ikikiri na kusema ukweli juzi kuwa inakisaidia kikundi hicho cha waasi.

Vyanzo hivyo vya habari viliendelea kusema kuwa, mwaka jana mwezi Mei, Baraza la Usalama la UN katika ufuatiliaji wake lilibaini majeshi ya Rwanda kushiriki vurugu zinazoendelea ndani ya DRC, hali iliyosababisha Nchi za Maziwa Makuu kuingilia kati ili kuleta suluhu bila kuishirikisha Rwanda ambayo ilionekana kuwa na maslahi ndani ya mgogoro huo.

Katika hatua nyingine, taarifa kutoka Wizara ya Mambo ya Nje na Ushirikiano wa Kimataifa zilisema, Waziri Bernard Membe alikutana na Mabalozi wa Mataifa matano ambayo ni wajumbe wa Baraza la Usalama la Umoja wa Mataifa ili kujadili masuala mbalimbali ya Kikanda na hasa mgogoro wa DRC.

Kwa mujibu wa taarifa hizo, Waziri Membe alipokutana na mabalozi hao alishukuru Baraza la Usalama la Umoja wa Mataifa kwa kutoa tamko la kulaani vikali tukio la kuuawa kwa mlinzi wa Amani wa Tanzania na kutuma salamu za pole kwa Serikali ya Jamhuri ya Muungano wa Tanzania na familia ya marehemu.

Waziri Membe pia aliomba baraza hilo kuitaka Rwanda kuacha kuingiza majeshi yake DRC kwa nia ya kusaidia waasi wa M23 na kuongeza kuwa linapokuja suala la FIB wito wao ni “akishambuliwa mmoja, wameshambuliwa wote.”

Mabalozi aliokutana nao Waziri Membe ni kutoka Urusi, Uingereza, Ufaransa, Marekani na China, nchi ambazo zinajulikana kama wajumbe wa kudumu wa Baraza hilo la Usalama.

Wakati huo huo, Waziri Membe alisema Rais Yoweri Museveni ameitisha kikao cha dharura cha Nchi za Maziwa Makuu, mjini Kampala ili kujadili mgogoro huo wa DRC kitakachofanyika Septemba 4 na Septemba 5, mwaka huu. Alisema Septemba 4 utakuwa mkutano wa Mawaziri na Septemba 5 utakuwa mkutano wa Marais wa nchi hizo.

Katika hatua nyingine, jeshi la Afrika Kusini limetamba kuwa lipo tayari kuongeza nguvu kwa wapiganaji wa Monusco kwa kuwa wanaamini wana jeshi imara lenye uwezo wa kuchakaza `wakorofi’.

Kauli hiyo imetolewa na Luteni Jenerali wa Jeshi la Afrika Kusini, Derrick Ngwebi alipozungumza na wapiganaji katika kambi ya Thaba Tshwane, jijini Pretoria. “Tuko imara na tayari kwa lolote huko DRC. Hatuna chembe ya shaka,” alisema na kuongeza kuwa, Umoja wa Mataifa umewaomba Afrika Kusini kuongeza zana za kivita huko Mashariki kwa DRC.

“Kikosi cha mizinga kinatoka Tanzania na kimeshatua DRC. Kwa upande wa helikopta za kivita Umoja wa Mataifa ulituomba tujiandae, nasi tumefanya hivyo na nawahakikishieni, kazi itafanyika,” alisema Ngwebi na kuongeza kuwa, imeshatanguliza askari na helikopta tatu za kivita wakati ikijipanga kupeleka helikopta zaidi na za kisasa za kivita.

Wiki iliyopita, Rais Jacob Zuma aliliambia Bunge la Afrika Kusini kuwa nchi yake imeshapeleka askari 1,345 huko Mashariki na DRC.

Kwa hisani ya:  www.habarileo.co.tz