Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)

I am delighted and privileged to speak in the House. Over many years when I was a student we had family and friendship ties to Africa. Many of us who have experienced those ties have developed a deep friendship with African people. It is with a sense of great sadness that I speak on this motion. I spent many years as a bookseller, reading books about Africa, particularly the great novels of Karen Blixen who described the wonderful African people of Zimbabwe, Kenya and Uganda. I also read Thomas Pakenham's book The Scramble for Africa, which tells the bloody history of colonisation and what happened to proud people under that colonisation. The current political situation is of major concern to us in the House. The recent decision to allow the presidential run-off to occur as late as 31 July is worrying, as are comments by the deputy information Minister that under its Electoral Act there is leeway to delay the election for a further 12 months for logistical reasons. The world is watching and waiting for Zimbabwe to embrace more open and democratic processes. The world is impatient for this to happen.

The Electoral Institute of Southern Africa, EISA, which works for fair elections, human rights and good governance, sent observers to monitor the elections on 29 March. It stated that the unnecessary and inexplicable delay of the announcement of the presidential poll results has led to frustration, suspicion and anxiety among the contesting parties. We know this is a fact; we know also that voters and people watching are in a state of simmering tension.

It is apparent that the lack of transparency and escalation of politically motivated incidents of violence and intimidation in the post-election phase may not be conducive to a peaceful atmosphere ahead of any run-off. It is stated that the unexplained closure of the ZEC national command centre before the announcement of the presidential results raises serious concerns regarding the credibility of the tabulation process, the integrity of the election materials and, the reliability of the results.

We acknowledge that progress has been made in some areas regarding a more peaceful environment for elections in Zimbabwe to take place, spearheaded by SADC and the South African President Thabo Mbeki. I support the motion which calls on SADC to lead international pressure on Zimbabwe to complete the electoral process fairly and to resolve the current crisis peacefully.

I will conclude with the following quotation:

Once to every man and nation comes the moment to decide. This is Zimbabwe's moment to pursue the path of democracy and to show the world that Zimbabwe can choose an open and democratic way forward.

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