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Zimbabwe: Police to Crush Premature Election Celebrations
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The Zimbabwe Guardian (London)
28 March 2008
Posted to the web 28 March 2008
ZIMBABWE Republic Police (ZRP) has vowed to crush any premature victory celebrations ahead of the official release of results from this weekend's general elections.
In a statement yesterday, ZRP assistant commissioner, Faustino Mazango said the police would not brook any situations of chaos or conduct likely to cause a breach of peace, pandemonium, commotion, tumult or disturbance of peace during the interim period between vote counting and final announcement of results.
"We will not countenance any mischievous claims by anyone winning an election just because they have led in one part of the constituency whether it be council, parliamentary, senatorial and presidential election.
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"We urge politicians not to excite members of the public when they have a lead at one time or the other in any part of the constituency," said Mazango. Mazango urged people only to rejoice after announcement of official results but warned against provocative celebrations.
"We are more than prepared to deal a deadly blow to any such repugnant forces. These are not mere threats, but words of advice to our brothers and sisters and indeed everyone, lest people fail to understand and appreciate our actions to situations of anarchy," also added Mazango. Last month, police commissioner-general Augustine Chihuri warned that his force was prepared to use firearms to stamp out violence during or after joint presidential and legislative elections this month.
Police have also banned the carrying of weapons such as knives, catapults, axes and clubs in the run-up to the polls, and for two weeks afterwards. Zimbabweans go to the polls on Saturday to elect the president, members of parliament and local councillors. Veteran President Robert Mugabe, seeking a sixth term in office, has urged his supporters to desist from violence. Zimbabwe's last presidential elections in 2002 were marred by claims of vote-rigging and violence.
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