Millions of Zimbabweans went to vote in Presidential and Parliamentary elections on 29^th March. 10 days later the Presidential results are yet to be announced, fuelling speculation that vote rigging could be going on. In addition, there is an increasing chance of state-sponsored violence the longer the results are withheld.

ACTSA with the support of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and other civil society organisations is calling on its supporters to ask both SADC and the African Union to ensure that its principles and guidelines governing democratic elections are followed and that it exerts its influence for the immediate release of the election results.

In the event of a Presidential run-off, civil society fears a campaign of state-sponsored violence and ACTSA is, therefore, requesting that SADC and the African Union ensures the run-off is conducted according to SADC principles and guidelines for elections, there be an end to violence and intimidation, that SADC election observers be deployed immediately for the duration of any run off election and for Zimbabweans to vote without fear.

Zambian President Mwanawasa has called an extraordinary SADC summit this weekend to discuss the impasse in the Zimbabwean elections. Please email President Mwanawasa to ask that he does all he can during the summit to meet these recommendations.

Email the Tanzanian High Commissioner, the country that currently chairs the AU, to ask that her government does all it can to meet the same recommendations.