Federal Minister Steinmeier expresses regret over withdrawal of opposition candidate from elections Print

On 22 June, presidential candidate for the opposition Morgan Tsvangirai announced his withdrawal from the second round of presidential elections in Zimbabwe. He cited violence and intimidation against his party, the MDC (Movement for Democratic Change), and its supporters as the reasons for the move.

Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Frank-Walter Steinmeier made the following statement on the matter this morning in Berlin (23 June):

'Morgan Tsvangirai's forced withdrawal is a severe setback for Zimbabwe and the entire region. The circumstances of his decision fill me with deep concern. Wherever people fear for their lives because they side with the opposition, democracy can be nothing but a farce.

I call upon those in power in Harare finally to desist from using violence and intimidation as a political instrument and to create a general framework in which human rights are observed and economic development will be possible."
 
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