South Africa/Zimbabwe: SADC forum barred from Zim poll

Zimbabwe’s ministry of foreign affairs confirmed on Monday that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Parliamentary Forum will not be invited to observe the country’s election in three weeks' time. The forum -- comprising representatives of all SADC states, including Zimbabwe -- has traditionally observed elections in SADC countries. It observed Zimbabwe’s last major election in 2002 but unlike other African observer missions, produced a scathing report condemning violence and other unfair practices during the poll, which saw President Robert Mugabe winning a fifth term to rule the country. Mugabe and his government have apparently not forgiven the forum for breaking ranks with other continental missions three years ago. The forum was last week omitted from a list of countries and organisations invited to observe the March 31 poll.