News

Friday’s “election” of Robert Mugabe for a fourth, five-year term as president of Zimbabwe was today condemned by UNI General Secretary Philip Jennings as a “sham”.

UNI global union had called for the cancellation of Friday’s election after front-runner candidate Morgan Tsvangirai, from the Movement for Democratic Change, was forced to pull out because of intimidation of his supporters by Zanu PF groups and widespread disruption to his campaign.

Th Financial Times reports that African observers and civil society groups agreed voters stayed away in droves or spoiled their ballots, in spite of widespread intimidation to force them to vote for Mugabe.

“Mugabe does not have a mandate from his people and he does not deserve a mandate from the international community,” Philip told the opening session of UNI Telecom’s World Meeting in Nyon, Switzerland. “This election was an absolute scam. Mr Mugabe, your time is up - you must go.”

Global unions will now be discussing a campaign to step up the pressure for a restoration of democracy to Zimbabwe, whose people are living through an almost total collapse of the economy that has forced millions into exile in South Africa and elsewhere and is de-stabilising the region.

“Friday’s events were a setback for Africa - it’s a wrong message from Africa where there have been strides for democracy,” Philip told Telecom delegates.