¡¡ HARARE, April 3 (Xinhuanet) -- The Southern African Development Community (SADC) Elections Observer Mission on Sunday upheld the results of the sixth parliamentary election of Zimbabwe on Thursday, reported the official news agency New Ziana.

    Head of delegation Phumzile Mlambo Ngcuka of South Africa told a press conference that the election was conducted in an open, transparent and professional manner.

    "The people of Zimbabwe have expressed their will in an impressively instructive manner that will go a long way in contributing to the consolidation of democracy and political stability not only in Zimbabwe but also in the region as a whole,"she said.

    "SADC wishes, therefore, to commend the people of Zimbabwe for high levels of political tolerance and maturity displayed," she said.

    The mission, she said, noted that there was need for improvement on the equitable access to the state media by all political parties, wide publication of updating and verification of voter's roll and ensuring that the police and presiding officers were informed on the role of observers.

    Ngcuka said the mission was however concerned about the number of people who were turned away from polling stations for various reasons.

    The mission received 10 complaints from the opposition allegingintimidation, inflated voter's roll, unlawful arrests, and lack ofaccess to the media, which were followed up, although some were not confirmed.

    "However, these complaints and allegations do not compromise the will of the people of Zimbabwe," she said.

    The SADC observer mission arrived in the country on March 15 and attended more than 2,000 meetings and rallies, she said.

    The mission deployed observers in all the country's 10 provinces from the March 23 to April 1.

    The ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front won 78 seats in the election, which gives the southern African country's long-ruling party a landslide majority in parliament.

    The opposition Movement for Democratic Change garnered 41 seats,while Jonathan Moyo, President Robert Mugabe's former spin-doctor,also managed one seat as independent. Enditem