SADC to help Zimbabwe raise funds for elections

{{The Southern African Development Community (SADC) will soon hold a summit to explore ways of helping Zimbabwe fund elections expected later this year, President Robert Mugabe said.}}

President Mugabe said SADC made the resolution at an extraordinary summit on the sidelines of the African Union summit in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa at the weekend.

The summit was called to discuss political problems in Zimbabwe, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

President Mugabe told his supporters on arrival at the Harare International Airport on Monday night that the regional bloc was happy with the pace of reforms in Zimbabwe after the country adopted a new constitution last week.

“We updated SADC on the conclusion of the constitutional reform process and appealed for help with raising funding for the elections,” he said.

“SADC said they would call a meeting to discuss ways of funding the elections.”

SADC executive secretary Tomaz Salamao said the region was now awaiting fresh elections in Zimbabwe, following the adoption of the new constitution.

“Our position as SADC is that the constitution was concluded and the next step is the election whether it’s held within one month, two months, three months or the next six months, it is up to those with the powers to decide,” he said.

“As SADC, we will be there to support….We are basically waiting for the announcement of the day of the election so that we move this process forward.”

Zimbabwe requires about $132 million to hold the presidential, parliamentary and local government elections.

The coalition government appealed to UNDP for funding, but withdrew the request after President Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party objected to the conditions imposed by the world body.

President Mugabe wants the elections to be held by June 29 when the life of the current parliament expires, saying he does not want to rule by decree.

NMG