A South African delegation of election observers on Tuesday held talks with members of the Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF), led by the party’s Secretary General Cde OM Mpofu.
Head of the South African delegation, Mr Khazamula Lawrence Chabane, said they thought it was necessary to visit the Zanu-PF Headquarters so they could share some lessons they picked up as they were observing the 2023 Zimbabwe Elections.
“Our view is that elections went well, they were peaceful. When we came, we found out that there was peace,” Chabane noted.
“During the election there was peace and there is still peace after the election, and we think those are the lessons we need to take and maintain peace moving forward. We will take the message back home of course like any other observer mission,” he continued.
Presidency congratulates Zimbabweans
These Observer Mission’s sentiments were also echoed by the South African Presidency as it issued a statement congratulating the government and the people of Zimbabwe for “organizing and holding the harmonized elections.”
The Presidency said South Africa is conscious that the “elections took place under a difficult economic environment due to the burdening sanctions which the people of Zimbabwe continue to unjustly endure.”
Moreover, South Africa acknowledged the preliminary pronouncements by the invited International Observers Missions including the African Union (AU) and the South African Development Community (SEOM) Observer Missions.
“South Africa calls on all the parties in Zimbabwe to work in unison in sustaining peace and work towards development and shared prosperity in the country,” the Presidency stated.
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