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Kikwete seeks calm in DRC
2006-08-27 10:14:21
By Correspondent Michael Haonga
The SADC organ on politics, defence, and security co-operation Chairperson, Jakaya Kikwete, has called for calm and patience by all parties in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the interest of peace and democracy to allow the second round of elections scheduled for 29th October, 2006 to take place.
Chairperson Jakaya Kikwete who is also the President of the United republic of Tanzania further requests ’’…the Congolese people, political parties and candidates to respect and accept the election results and abide by all principles of guidelines governing democratic elections in line with the Code of Conduct of Political Parties, Groupings and Independent Candidates in the DRC.’’
The SADC organ’s chairperson appeal to that end is contained in a three - page statement delivered at a press conference in Dar es Salaam yesterday on his behalf by the Tanzania Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, Dr Asha Rose Migiro,
The Chairperson also commends the choice made by the two sides to discontinue the use of military means to resolve their political differences.
Shortly after and before the 30th July 2006 election results were announced on 20th August, 2006, in which Incumbent DRC President, Joseph Kabila Kabange secured 44.81 per cent and his closest contender, Jean Pierre Bemba Gombo 20.03 per cent, some parts of the country experienced fighting between militia supporting Candidate Gombo and Government forces.
He said what the people of DRC want was peace as partly demonstrated by massive turn -out and peaceful voting on the Election Day, hence he further urges ’’…all concerned parties to lodge their complaints, if any, through the electoral court in line with the laws of the land.’’
President Kikwete has expresses satisfaction at the prompt way in which the peace threatening situation has been contained so far to give room for peaceful and orderly resolution of the differences attributed to the chaotic and tense situation.
The SADC Organ Chairman also calls on the international community to continue nurturing the peace and supporting the electoral process up to the second round of the elections and the stabilization process after the elections.
On his part, he said he would ’’continue to work within the SADC framework, in co-operation with other leaders of the region, to encourage the people of the DRC to stay the path of reconciliation, peace and democracy.’’
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