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Zimbabwe: Pre-Election Survey Shows Tsvangirai in Lead
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SW Radio Africa (London)
14 March 2008
Posted to the web 14 March 2008
Lance Guma
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has more support than Robert Mugabe and Simba Makoni combined, according to a recent pre-election survey by the Mass Public Opinion Institute (MPOI).
Tsvangirai was favoured 28,3 percent by respondents, compared to Mugabe's 20,3 percent and Makoni's 8,6 percent. The MPOI was set up in 1999 'to promote and strengthen democratic governance through research.' It is run by respected political commentator and University of Zimbabwe lecturer Eldred Masunungure.
Masunungure said a lot of votes are still up for grabs since a number of respondents refused to disclose their choices. A general climate of fear cultivated by successive violent election campaigns has meant many people are reluctant to discuss the candidates they will vote for. About 23,5 percent of those surveyed said their vote was secret, 7,5 percent had nothing to say, 5,4 percent will not vote, 4,4 percent said they didn't know. In addition 1 percent said they would vote for little known presidential candidate Langton Towungana, while the remaining 1,9 percent respondents were classed as 'other' in the report.
Masunungure says it is unlikely any of the candidates can get an outright majority of over 51 percent in the first round of voting. This he says means a second round of voting will be necessary to choose between the two leading candidates. He says it will also be unlikely that any of the parties contesting will secure a two-thirds majority in both the House of Assembly and Senate. Under Constitutional Amendment 18, signed by both Zanu PF and the MDC, the winner of the presidential election has to get an outright majority.
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The MPOI survey has also revealed that at least 75 percent of people polled did not receive any voter education from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. Under the SADC guidelines governing elections and adopted in 2004, voter education is a key requirement to ensure free and fair elections. This is in addition to equal access to the media and freedom to hold political rallies, none of which has been respected by the ruling party. Zanu PF has also responded to the MPOI pre-election survey by commissioning its own survey to be conducted by academics from the University of Zimbabwe, aligned to the party.
I agree that the poll is a set up to declare Mugabe has stolen the election. It was my first and immediate thought on reading the headlines. The other guy mungojerry I call him is a western stooge. If he had opposed Mugabe and also opposed the western powers that are no doubt bankrolling him I could have respect for him. Mungojerry is another Chalabi, one of the power hungry stooges that brought destruction on his own people in Iraq. Traitor is too good a word.
I do Zillion times agree with Banda. Why are Africans keep accepting other cultures; Especially so, Europeans to keep destroying our Continent, Africa. When are those stupid and ignorant Africans going to wake up and smell the burnt coffee. Do those stupid Africans actually think Europe cares for the Black Skin or the Continent. All they care for is our minerial resources. That's the Fact!!!!!!
Banda, you cannot say that talk radio is "dangerous." Radio is a well respected medium that works very well in many countries to inform and entertain the people. What happened in Rwanda is an exceptional case and comparing that to SW Radio in London is plainly ignorant. It is obvious that SW Radio has an agenda and probably does support Tsvagirai but many newspapers, television networks, and radio stations in every free and democratic country will endorse one candidate over others in an election. That is fact. And why is it that they cannot support Tsvangirai but The Herald can... [Read Full Text]
It is interesting that whenever a hard hitting, factual article is printed that does not agree with the Zanu-PF party line, there are always Z-PF party loyalists who will not only disagree with the obvious, but do so in such grandiose terms as to prove themselves ludicrous lackeys. The world knows the truth, and that is that mugabe has gone from a hero to a pathetic megalomaniac. The “breadbasket” did not become the “basket case” for any other reason. To think otherwise is foolish.
I would also suggest that people should go for the long term fighters thats Tswangirai and the issues regarding the running of the country be looked into at a later stage as the country sets for revision of the constitution and other governing polices
I a afraid that Zimbabwe is slowly drifting into a new dimension of monopoly . Zanu and it's suppoters have created a monopoly of thought and will not allow people to think differently lest you be labelled a puppet of the worst and a traitor of the struggle. They have even unleashed this terror that some people are beginning to think that it is illegal to think !!!!!!!!!
I a afraid that Zimbabwe is slowly drifting into a new dimension of monopoly . Zanu and it's suppoters have created a monopoly of thought and will not allow people to think differently lest you be labelled a puppet of the worst and a traitor of the struggle. They have even unleashed this terror that some people are beginning to think that it is illegal to think !!!!!!!!! What is wrong in accepting the results of this poll when people accept whatever you publish in your Herald ? I think whoever who is going to win the election other... [Read Full Text]
I a afraid that Zimbabwe is slowly drifting into a new dimension of monopoly . Zanu and it's suppoters have created a monopoly of thought and will not allow people to think differently lest you be labelled a puppet of the worst and a traitor of the struggle. They have even unleashed this terror that some people are beginning to think that it is illegal to think !!!!!!!!! What is wrong in accepting the results of this poll when people accept whatever you publish in your Herald ? I think whoever who is going to win the election other... [Read Full Text]
MDC and MPOI are sister organizations as far as i'm concerned. Is it any wonder that these two were formed around the same time? Tsvangirai is now a hard sell. I think the researchers ought to include the rig factor. I think.
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