SW Radio Africa (London)
Lance Guma
30 March 2008
An environment of anxiety gripped the country as the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission dragged its feet in announcing election results. No reason has been given for the delay although the opposition say their own command centres have over half the results fully counted.
This however has not stopped the MDC command centre from releasing results supplied by their own polling agents. Our Bulawayo correspondent Lionel Saungweme told us thousands of MDC supporters are already moving around the city in jovial celebrations while motorists are blowing their horns in acknowledgement.
In results given so far it seems the Tsvangirai MDC has a 78 percent lead in senate and house of assembly seats. The majority of results in Zanu PF strongholds are still pending. In the Bulawayo area the Mutambara MDC suffered a humiliating loss to the rival MDC faction led by Tsvangirai who swept all the seats available. Only senate candidate David Coltart from the Mutambara side managed to win in the city.
The army and police have already warned against premature celebrations but it seems there is no stopping a determined people angling for change. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has meanwhile called for patience to allow them to, 'verify and collate' results. 'The commission notes with concern that some stakeholders have gone on to announce purported results of the poll when in fact the results are being verified and collated,' a statement said.
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