LUSAKA (AFP) — Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa, current chair of the 14-nation Southern African Development Community, said Sunday it was "scandalous for SADC to remain silent on Zimbabwe."
"It's scandalous for SADC to remain silent on Zimbabwe," Mwanawasa told reporters after Zimbabwe opposition chief Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew from the country's presidential run-off.
He added that conditions in Zimbabwe had violated SADC's principles on elections.
"The current political situation in Zimbabwe falls far short of the SADC principles," said the president.
"Free campaigns have not been allowed, and the opposition have been denied access to the media. These are all in contravention of the SADC principles."
Mwanawasa criticised South African President Thabo Mbeki's mediation efforts in Zimbabwe's crisis, saying he had not briefed him on his meeting last week with Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe.
SADC has appointed Mbeki mediator in the crisis.
"I feel disappointed that as the chairman I'm being denied information," said Mwanawasa. "I have to rely on my own intelligence reports gathered on Zimbabwe."
The regional bloc has been divided on how to deal with Zimbabwe, with Botswana and Zambia taking a harder line.
In his comments on Sunday, Mwanawasa suggested the Zimbabwe vote could be postponed until a later date, without providing further details.
"There is no need to be ashamed in announcing that the presidential run-off should be called off until further notice," he said.
Tsvangirai said his party reached the decision to withdraw because violence in the country had made a fair vote impossible.
The opposition claims more than 80 of its supporters had been killed in a campaign of intimidation ahead of the vote and thousands injured.
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