Zimbabwe's election delay could have 'serious implications', warns UN Secretary-General
{{date|April 16, 2008}}
[[Image:Bankimoon cropped.jpg|thumb|U.N. Secretary-General [[w:Ban Ki-moon|Ban Ki-moon]]]]
[[United Nations]] Secretary-General [[w:Ban Ki-moon|Ban Ki-moon]] remarked on the post-election situation in [[Zimbabwe]] on Wednesday, expressing concern about the failure of the election commission to release the results. He believes the delay could have "serious implications" for Zimbabwe's people.

{{QuoteLeft|Absent a transparent solution to this impasse, the situation could deteriorate further with serious implications for the people of Zimbabwe.|4=[[w:Ban Ki-moon|Ban Ki-moon]]}}
At a summit in [[New York, New York|New York City]], which was attended by the [[w:UN Security Council|UN Security Council]] and [[w:African Union|African Union]] leaders, Ban said the international community is waiting for "decisive action" from the governments of southern [[Africa]]. "Absent a transparent solution to this impasse, the situation could deteriorate further with serious implications for the people of Zimbabwe," he said. "The credibility of the democratic process in Africa could be at stake here."

Ban said the UN is willing to help the [[w:Southern African Development Community|Southern African Development Community]] resolve the crisis, and added that a possible second round of elections would have to be conducted fairly and transparently, in the presence of international observers.

[[United Kingdom|British]] Prime Minister [[Gordon Brown]] agreed with the Secretary-General's remarks. He called on the international community to put more pressure on Zimbabwean president [[w:Robert Mugabe|Robert Mugabe]], who has been accused of rigging the election. 

"No one thinks, having seen the result at the polling stations, that President Mugabe has won this election," Brown said. "A stolen election would not be an election at all. The credibility of the democratic process depends on there being a legitimate government."

The summit was chaired by [[South Africa]]n President [[w:Thabo Mbeki|Thabo Mbeki]], who insisted on Saturday that there was "no crisis" in Zimbabwe. [[w:Jacob Zuma|Jacob Zuma]], leader of [[South Africa]]'s ruling [[w:African National Congress|ANC]] party, disagreed with Mbeki, saying that "the situation is more worrying now given the reported violence that has erupted."

{{haveyoursay}}
== Related news ==
*{{wikinews|title=Mugabe's party calls for recount of Zimbabwe presidential votes|date=April 6, 2008}}
*{{wikinews|title=Zimbabwe opposition claims early victory in election|date=March 30, 2008}}
*{{wikinews|title=Zimbabwe prepares for election|date=March 29, 2008}}

== Sources ==
{{Wikipediapar|Zimbabwean presidential election, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://www.theherald.co.uk/news/news/display.var.2203136.0.Brown_piles_pressure_on_Mugabe_at_UN.php|title=Brown piles pressure on Mugabe at UN|author=Michael Settle|pub=The Herald|date=April 16, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/04/16/zimbabwe.un/?iref=hpmostpop|title= U.N. head slams Zimbabwe stalemate|author=Richard Roth|pub=CNN|date=April 16, 2008}}
*{{source|url=http://voanews.com/english/2008-04-16-voa46.cfm|title=Zimbabwe in Spotlight at UN-AU Meeting|author=Margaret Besheer|pub=Voice of America|date=April 16, 2008}}

{{publish}}
{{archived}}

[[Category:Africa]]
[[Category:South Africa]]
[[Category:Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:Elections]]
[[Category:United Nations]]
[[Category:Ban Ki-moon]]
[[Category:Gordon Brown]]
[[Category:Robert Mugabe]]
[[Category:African Union]]
Ban Ki-moon
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon remarked on the post-election situation in Zimbabwe on Wednesday, expressing concern about the failure of the election commission to release the results. He believes the delay could have "serious implications" for Zimbabwe's people.


At a summit in New York City, which was attended by the UN Security Council and African Union leaders, Ban said the international community is waiting for "decisive action" from the governments of southern Africa. "Absent a transparent solution to this impasse, the situation could deteriorate further with serious implications for the people of Zimbabwe," he said. "The credibility of the democratic process in Africa could be at stake here."

Ban said the UN is willing to help the Southern African Development Community resolve the crisis, and added that a possible second round of elections would have to be conducted fairly and transparently, in the presence of international observers.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown agreed with the Secretary-General's remarks. He called on the international community to put more pressure on Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe, who has been accused of rigging the election. 

"No one thinks, having seen the result at the polling stations, that President Mugabe has won this election," Brown said. "A stolen election would not be an election at all. The credibility of the democratic process depends on there being a legitimate government."

The summit was chaired by South African President Thabo Mbeki, who insisted on Saturday that there was "no crisis" in Zimbabwe. Jacob Zuma, leader of South Africa's ruling ANC party, disagreed with Mbeki, saying that "the situation is more worrying now given the reported violence that has erupted."
Africa South Africa Zimbabwe Politics and conflicts Elections United Nations Ban Ki-moon Gordon Brown Robert Mugabe African Union