The African Union will provide financial and technical assistance to Zimbabwe to help ensure credible elections later this year, the chairperson of the African Union Commission told reporters Tuesday in Harare. Briefing reporters at the end of a three-day visit to Zimbabwe, the chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said he met separately with former President Robert Mugabe and current President Emmerson Mnangagwa. He said he discussed his meeting with Mugabe during a courtesy visit.
“And since President Mugabe forms part of the liberation heroes that have fought for the continent, it’s a common heritage for us,” he said, “and this is also recognized by the authorities of the country. We exchanged views. I found him to be very lucid, and explained why he had to resign — this is for peace and development of the country — and we discussed very much at ease.”
The Chadian diplomat said Mnangagwa’s government asked for the African Union to push Western countries, including the United States, to lift sanctions imposed on officials beginning in 2002 following allegations of vote rigging and human rights abuses.
The country is headed to elections in mid-2018, though no date has been set.
Full Article: African Union to Provide Assistance for Zimbabwe Elections.