SOUTH AFRICA: ANC/COSATU agree conditions in Zim not "conducive" to free poll

[ This report does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations]

JOHANNESBURG, 28 Jan 2005 (IRIN) - South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) and its alliance partners have concluded that conditions are not believed to be "conducive" to holding "free and fair elections" in Zimbabwe in March, an official told IRIN.

The ruling alliance secretariat, made up of the ANC, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU) and the South African Communist Party (SACP), met on Thursday to develop a common understanding of the issues touching Zimbabwe, among other items.

"All the alliance members were in agreement on that position. To ensure that the electoral process in Zimbabwe complies with the SADC [Southern African Development Community] protocols, all alliance partners have been asked to take whatever course they can," COSATU spokesman Paul Notyawa said.

Following the meeting on Thursday, the members announced that COSATU's upcoming "fact-finding" mission to Zimbabwe, reportedly scheduled for next week, should be seen as a "people-to-people exchange between South Africans and Zimbabweans" for the creation of a "climate of dialogue".

"The aim of the visit is not to undermine the government of Zimbabwe, but to interact with the people of that country and listen to their concerns. We cannot announce the coming Zimbabwe national elections as being free and fair if we do not have a true reflection of the problems of the people of Zimbabwe. The aim of the trip is to experience these problems ourselves," Notyawa explained.

The ANC gave the COSATU mission a thumbs-up earlier this week, after the labour movement's first "solidarity" trip to Zimbabwe in October last year was criticised by South African President Thabo Mbeki. The 14-member delegation was deported by the Zimbabwean authorities.

The SACP announced that it also intends sending a mission to Zimbabwe. "Our visit, the timing of which is still to be decided, will also be part of our initiative to engage all the role- players. We are not calling for the postponement of elections; we see the holding of timely elections as a critical component of democracy in Zimbabwe. We have to, however, ensure that they are free and fair," said SACP spokesman Kaizer Mohau.

ZANU-PF spokesman Nathan Shamuyarira declined to comment, but told IRIN that his party would issue a statement on Monday.

[ENDS]