Mugabe's re-election in Zimbabwe lacks legitimacy: UN

Zimbabwe has become a "challenge to the world" because the re-elected government of President Robert Mugabe lacks legitimacy to govern, UN Deputy Secretary General Asha-Rose Migiro said Tuesday in a UN Security Council meeting.

Migiro took part in the African Union summit at Sharm el-Sheikh, a resort city in Egypt, last week at which Zimbabwe's elections were debated. She reported to the UN council in New York that the UN held the opinion that Zimbabwe is in crisis and has reached a "moment of truth" for democracy on the African continent.

"When an election is conducted in an atmosphere of fear and violence, its outcome cannot have a legitimacy that is built on the will of the people," she said. "Consequently, the principle of democracy is at stake."

"Zimbabwe's flawed elections produced illegitimate results," she said. "The seriousness of the situation and its possible consequences has the potential to affect regional peace and security in profound ways."

Migiro said African observers sent by the South African Development Community (SADC), the AU and the Pan-African Parliament reported that the electoral process that declared Mugabe winner of the runoff on June 27 was "seriously flawed". Mugabe was declared winner of 89.5 percent of the total cast ballots.

Migiro's briefing to the council was designed to help that body form an idea whether it should proceed with proposals to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe. Russia and some African states are opposed to the sanctions.

--DPAskp/am

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