By Misheck Shambare and Philemon Jambaya

Opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Wednesday blasted SADC leaders for allowing Zimbabwe to get away with unfree and unfair elections.
Tsvangirai was making these comments in the aftermath of the release of the South African government’s official election report on the 2002 Zimbabwean presidential elections.
The report was released following several court applications spanning over five years by South African-based Mail &Guardian newspaper.
Speaking at a press briefing in the capital Morgan Tsvangirai said SADC countries have continued to turn a blind eye on the abuse of democracy by the ruling Zanu PF party.
Fast forwarding to the 2008 and 2013 harmonised elections, the opposition leader said,
“In 2008 innocent civilians lives were butchered and the poll result was not announced for more than two months which the SADC turned a blind eye on.
“We are outraged by the role of some SADC countries roles in subverting the democratic process in some another sovereign state,” he said.
He added that the 2013 harmonized election was also stolen with the full blessing of SADC. He accused South Africa of being the chief sponsor of the ‘rigged’ verdict of that election.
“SADC’s failure to censure denounce and punish Mugabe’s actions continue to represent a travesty of democracy in this country,” Tsvangirai said.
The report stated that the elections of 2002 and were not free and fair but the South African observer team which was heading the elections endorsed them.
“Kgalema Motlante who was then the acting president of South Africa validated the 2002 rigged elections declaring them completely free and fair,” said Tsvangirai.
The MDC is still to have the electronic voters roll a year after the 2013 elections.
“The voters roll is on the heart of the fairness of an election process. If it is not provided in time then the credibility of that election is questionable,” said Tsvangirai.
Tsvangirai said they will use the 2002 election report as a bench mark in future that elections in the country are not held under free and fair circumstances.
“Our position is that the 2002 elections were not free and fair has been vindicated and unfortunately it is a vindication 12 years down the line and we are laying the ground that future elections will not follow the same pattern,” he said