Opposition withdrawal from Zimbabwe election ‘deeply distressing’ development,
Says Secretary-General, expressing strong support for postponement of run-off
The following statement was issued Sunday, 22 June, by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:
The Secretary-General deeply regrets that, despite the repeated appeals of the international community, the Government of Zimbabwe has failed to put in place the conditions necessary for free and fair run-off elections. The circumstances that led to the withdrawal of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai today from the presidential elections represents a deeply distressing development that does not bode well for the future of democracy in Zimbabwe. The campaign of violence and intimidation that has marred this election has done a great disservice to the people of the country and must end immediately.
The Secretary-General has discussed the situation with various leaders, including those of the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC). He strongly supports the statement of the Chairman of SADC that conditions do not exist for a run-off election to be held at this time and that they should be postponed. The United Nations is prepared to work urgently with SADC and the African Union to help resolve this political impasse. His envoy, Assistant Secretary-General Haile Menkerios, remains in the region to assist.
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Robert Mugabe, the current head of state in Zimbabwe has said that the scheduled elections will take place in Zimbabwe, despite the fact that there have been calls from many influential organisations, including the United Nations, to cancel the elections due to the fact that the opposition candidate has pulled out.

"The election will take place on Friday in accordance with our laws and constitution," said a spokesperson for the Mugabe regime, talking to ''AFP''.

Ban Ki-moon, secretary general of the United Nations yesterday called for the election to be postponed. He said that he "strongly supports the statement of the Chairman of SADC (Southern African Development Community) that conditions do not exist for a run-off election to be held at this time and that they should be postponed." He also said that he was disappointed that a free and fair election could not take place.