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ZIMBABWE-LEADERS Apr-10-2008 (500 words) xxxi
South African archbishop seeks help defusing crisis in Zimbabwe
By Bronwen Dachs
Catholic News Service
CAPE TOWN, South Africa (CNS) -- A South African archbishop has urged African leaders to act swiftly to defuse the crisis in Zimbabwe, a country facing the threat of political violence after disputed elections March 29.
Archbishop Buti Tlhagale of Johannesburg called on "the leaders of the Southern African Development Community and the African Union to act swiftly to defuse this tension by mandating a mediator of sufficient international repute, such as Kofi Annan (former secretary-general of the United Nations), to ensure a solution that is acceptable to all Zimbabweans."
"I urge (South African) President (Thabo) Mbeki, the leaders of the Southern African Development Community and African Union leaders to use all of their influence and skill to intervene for the release of the Zimbabwean election results," said the archbishop, president of the Southern African Catholic Bishops' Conference in an April 10 statement.
He noted that "the situation in Zimbabwe is of regional, continental and international concern."
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission said the country's combined opposition has won a majority in parliament, defeating President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF party.
No official numbers have been released in the presidential vote, in which a candidate needs 50 percent plus one vote to avoid a runoff.
Zimbabwe's main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change, says that its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has won the presidential election outright with 50.3 percent of the vote.
An electoral commission official said at an April 9 court hearing in the capital, Harare, that the commission still is verifying the results of the presidential vote.
Mugabe, 84, who is seeking a sixth consecutive term in office, was challenged by Tsvangirai and former finance minister Simba Makoni, who ran as an independent.
"The apparent impunity and lack of respect for the democratic process that has allowed this delay is a cause for grave concern," Archbishop Tlhagale said.
"The postponement of the release of the results has only fueled tension and fear in Zimbabwe," he said, noting that "the credibility of a peaceful vote has been undermined by this delay and the posturing by political parties."
Mugabe's government has arrested those opposing the government since the poll and has accused the opposition of trying to rig the outcome.
The Movement for Democratic Change has called for the release of the results, saying it's unjustifiable to withhold them as local outcomes were posted on the doors of some 9,000 polling places.
"This time of uncertainty has created an opportunity for lawlessness," Archbishop Tlhagale said.
"I trust that the concerns and future of the people of Zimbabwe will be placed first," he said.
Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, who chairs the 14-nation Southern African Development Community, has said that he will host talks for regional leaders April 12 aimed at breaking the deadlock.
Zimbabwe has the world's highest inflation rate -- more than 100,000 percent -- an unemployment rate of more than 80 percent and severe shortages of basic foods and fuel.
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