The Elders scheduled to visit Zimbabwe

WINDHOEK, JULY 16 – The Elders, with the support of the Kofi Annan Foundation, will visit Zimbabwe from 19-21 July to meet political leaders and support all actors working for free, fair and transparent elections, an inclusive transition and a brighter future for the country.

Kofi Annan, Chair of The Elders and the Kofi Annan Foundation and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, will lead the delegation. He will be joined by Mary Robinson, former President of Ireland and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and Lakhdar Brahimi, former Foreign Minister of Algeria and UN diplomat.

The delegation expects to meet political leaders, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, the diplomatic community, civil society representatives and media.

In April 2018, The Elders encouraged integrity and transparency across Zimbabwe’s transition period, with Kofi Annan, Chair of The Elders and former United Nations Secretary-General, saying that Zimbabwe is on the long road to recovery.

“The upcoming elections are an important first step on this path to democratic and civilian government, but they cannot be an end in themselves. Only a long-term process of national renewal will allow the country to reach its full potential,” said Annan.

Graça Machel, co-founder of The Elders with Nelson Mandela, added that the people of Zimbabwe have suffered for too long from autocratic rule, cronyism and economic mismanagement.

Said Machel: “These challenges can be overcome if the Government convenes free and fair elections and clamps down on corruption. The Elders affirm the people of Zimbabwe’s long-deferred dream for a better country, and stand with them in the months and years ahead.”

An independent group of leaders that use their collective experience and influence for peace, justice and human rights worldwide, The Elders was founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007.

The Elders are Martti Ahtisaari, Kofi Annan (Chair), Ban Ki-moon, Lakhdar Brahimi, Gro Harlem Brundtland (Deputy Chair), Hina Jilani, Ricardo Lagos, Graça Machel, Mary Robinson and Ernesto Zedillo.

Ela Bhatt, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Jimmy Carter and Desmond Tutu are Elders Emeritus. – musa@namibiadailynews.info