Zimbabwe elections taking place ‘despite Western pressure’ – official
Illegal sanctions imposed by Western states that “hate” Zimbabwe have not split the country, the secretary for administration of the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU–PF) party, Obert Mpofu, told RT on Monday.
Mpofu was speaking on the eve of Wednesday's general election in the southern African country when Zimbabweans will elect a president, councilors, and members of parliament.
According to Mpofu, a large number of American NGOs are importing divisive activities into the country. “They talk about food handouts to all people and blame the government for not producing enough food to feed its citizens,” instead of talking about the country’s development assistance.
The representative of President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa’s political party has said that, despite Western pressure on Zimbabwe, the current government has managed to ensure food security for its citizens.
Talking about the elections, Mpofu said observers had been invited from all over the world – including China and Russia, as well as other African states – to monitor the voting process.
He believes his party will be victorious in the elections, claiming that citizens “have seen what the president is capable of doing and what ZANU-PF is capable of doing in terms of infrastructure development, agriculture, mining, all sectors have been developed.”
If there is no clear winner among the 11 presidential candidates approved by the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission, a second round will take place six weeks later, on October 2.
The Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) is a political organization run by the current president. It has governed Zimbabwe since the country declared independence in 1980.
