Annan concerned, but welcomes SADC action

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has welcomed Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's assurances of a free and fair election in March, but says he is "acutely" concerned by the promulgation of a battery of restrictive laws in the troubled southern African country. "The Secretary-General is acutely concerned by the promulgation in Zimbabwe of laws that would severely restrict the ability of political parties to campaign freely, and would limit the freedom of the press. He emphasises that freedom of assembly and association, as well as free and vigorous mass media, protected by a strong and independent judiciary, are essential building blocks of democracy," Annan's spokesman said in a statement on Tuesday. "These are key features of the New Partnership for African Development, to which all African states have subscribed - and indeed, basic principles of SADC itself," he added. Annan was aware of Zimbabwe's importance to central and southern Africa and supported the steps taken by the Southern African Development Community (SADC) to facilitate free and fair elections in the country, the statement said. "He (Annan) encourages the government of Zimbabwe to implement fully and faithfully the actions it has promised to take, including ensuring freedom of speech and assembly, admitting international observers, investigating political violence and scrupulously respecting the rule of law," the statement added. SADC ended a summit in Malawi on Monday by calling on Mugabe to, among other things, guarantee freedom of speech and association, allow local and foreign journalists to cover the election and to allow local and foreign election observers. Mugabe promised to do so.