The Portfolio Committee on International Relations and Cooperation has heaped praise on the South African government and Southern African Development Community (SADC) for having facilitated successful elections in Zimbabwe.
This comes after the Committee received an extensive briefing from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation on the outcomes of the Zimbabwean elections. The presentations to the Committee were led by Deputy Minister, Mr Marius Fransman Deputy and Ambassador Jerry Matthews, Director-General from the Department.
The Committee congratulated the government and people of Zimbabwe for holding peaceful and free elections. Said Mr Tisetso Magama, Committee Chairperson: “We understand that this is a changed step from previous elections and to us this signals Zimbabwe in moving away from its violent past into a peaceful prosperous future”. Members of Committee extolled the leaders of Zimbabwe for constantly repeating the message of non-violence in their rallies and meetings, and for committing their parties to free and fair elections.
The Committee also commended the Zimbabwean people for a relatively high voter turnout, which was more 50%. The Committee lauded the South African government and Southern African Development Community (SADC) for a successful conclusion of the facilitation process.
The Committee wishes all Zimbabweans the best in consolidating their democracy and return to normality and a successful future. “Zimbabwe needs to return to being the bread basket of the region and continent. We indeed look forward to the consolidation and enhancement of the bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and South Africa consistent with government’s decisions to enhance countries socially and politically,” said Mr Magama.
Mr Magama said the Committee supported calls for the lifting of sanctions and restrictions imposed by the international community on Zimbabwe.
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