Zimbabwe Runoff Unlikely to be Fair, Regional Ministers Say

A group of cabinet ministers from Southern Africa have expressed strong reservations concerning Zimbabwe's impending June 27 presidential election run-off, saying it is very unlikely to be free and fair. The ministers, who represent member countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), said they would write to their presidents to take urgent action to salvage the situation in Zimbabwe. Incumbent President Robert Mugabe has been accused by opponents, Western countries and human rights groups of using killings and intimidation to reassert his power after losing the first round ballot to Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. [P.E]