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Former UN Chief Annan Calls for Peaceful Poll in Zimbabwe

by Sebastian Mhofu

   HARARE --

   Former U.N. secretary general Kofi Annan is calling for a peaceful
   election in Zimbabwe, which holds general polls in less than two weeks.
   Annan met with Zimbabwe's president and leader of the opposition
   Friday.

   Kofi Annan came to Zimbabwe leading "The Elders," an independent group
   of mostly retired global leaders working together for peace and human
   rights. With him on the trip are Mary Robinson, the former president of
   Ireland, and Lakhdar Brahimi, an Algerian career diplomat.
   They spent about an hour Friday meeting with President Emmerson
   Mnangagwa at the State House.
   The former U.N. secretary general said he would only speak to reporters
   Saturday when he winds up his three-day visit to Zimbabwe.
   But reporters would not take no for an answer.
   Reporter: What brought you to Zimbabwe, sir? Just one question sir'¦

   "To encourage a peaceful and credible election," Annan responded."

   Annan also met with Nelson Chamisa, leader of the main opposition
   party, the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance.
   The opposition has accused the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission of
   refusing to release the voters roll to be used in the polls or to
   reveal the quantity, location and printer of ballot papers.
   Chamisa said he had a "fruitful meeting" with The Elders group.