HARARE, July 19 (Xinhua) -- The Elders, a group of eminent leaders working to promote world peace and respect for human rights arrived in Zimbabwe Thursday for a three-day visit ahead of the July 30 general elections.
The group is led by former United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan, who is accompanied by former Ireland President Mary Robinson and former Algerian Foreign Minister Lakhdar Brahimi.
The three-member delegation was received at Harare Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport by UN resident representative Bishow Parajuli and is expected to meet with political leaders, election officials, diplomats, civil society and the media, among other stakeholders.
"The Elders, with the support of the Kofi Annan Foundation, will visit Zimbabwe from 19-21 July to meet political leaders and support all across working for free, fair and transparent elections, an inclusive transition and a brighter future for the country," the group said in a statement.
The group was founded in 2007 by the late former South African President Nelson Mandela and consists of around 14 high profile individuals who are no longer holding public office and seek to play a role in attainment of world peace.
Other prominent members include Arch-Bishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, former United States president Jimmy Carter and former UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon.
Zimbabwe goes to polls on July 30, the first since the resignation of former president Robert Mugabe last November.
Mugabe's successor, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, will face his main rival Nelson Chamisa of the MDC Alliance in the presidential poll.
Both are running for the presidency for the first time after taking over leadership of their political parties in the past seven months.
