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Zimbabwe: Mugabe Holds Back the Presidential Vote Result
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Business Day (Johannesburg)
1 April 2008
Posted to the web 1 April 2008
Dumisani Muleya
Harare
TENSION mounted in Zimbabwe yesterday as it emerged that President Robert Mugabe had arbitrarily blocked the result of the weekend’s cliff-hanger presidential election to manipulate it in his favour.
By late yesterday no official presidential vote results were available, prompting the US, the UK and the European Union to call for the state-run Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to act swiftly.
Last night, Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said the federation was “extremely concerned” over the slow counting of votes. “This snail pace just deepens all manner of suspicions,” he said in Johannesburg.
Almost 48 hours after polls closed, only 67 of 210 parliamentary constituencies had been declared, showing Mugabe’s Zanu (PF) party one seat ahead of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
The withholding of the result has caused a tense situation in a country already reeling from a deep economic crisis, and heightened fears of instability in the region.
On Sunday, Mugabe met the Joint Operations Command (JOC), which comprises army, police and intelligence chiefs, for an emergency meeting to discuss security. This was prompted by the growing fears that if Mugabe had managed to rig the elections — as opposition groups have claimed — antigovernment street protests could spontaneously erupt.
Security sources said Mugabe and the JOC decided to withhold the presidential election results and release the outcomes of the parliamentary, senate and local council polls in small batches to manage the volatile situation and prepare the nation for a Mugabe victory.
The idea is also to contain the situation because Mugabe and his Zanu (PF) have lost the polls by wide margins, sources said.
Sources in the ZEC, which is staffed by pro-government officials, said Mugabe had thwarted the release of the presidential election result to enable his regime to doctor the outcome.
A secret task force of security and electoral personnel was in place before the vote to ensure Mugabe and the divided Zanu (PF) won an absolute majority.
The team, headed by Central Intelligence Organisation operatives tasked to ensure Mugabe “wins power, stays in power, and keeps power”, would heavily influence the already flawed electoral process to secure a Mugabe victory, well substantiated information to hand shows.
Yesterday, riot police patrolled the streets of cities while the army was on high alert.
Mugabe has said he would crush any protests by the opposition. “Let them try and they will see,” he said in closing his campaign on Friday last week.
Political scientist John Makumbe said Mugabe was likely to rig the polls, creating serious clashes between the security forces and the opposition.
“I know for sure Mugabe will rig. There is too much evidence to support this,” he said. “We might end up with a Kenyan-like situation here, but it doesn’t have to be like that. However, if Mugabe rigs there will be fierce resistance this time.”
The main opposition MDC, led by Morgan Tsvangirai, said Zanu (PF) had lost and was trying to doctor the results.
Official results announced by the ZEC showed Zanu (PF) had 26 seats, Tsvangirai’s MDC faction had 25 seats and the MDC camp led by Arthur Mutambara had one seat.
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There are 210 seats in the House of Assembly and 60 elective seats in the Senate. Two cabinet ministers, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa and Interactive Affairs Minister Chen Chimutengwende, lost their seats.
The MDC yesterday released its unofficial results, which showed it had won 96 constituencies out of 128 counted.
“In our view we cannot see the national trend changing. This means the people have spoken, they’ve spoken against the dictatorship," said MDC secretary-general Tendai Biti.
The time has gone,,, don't get me wrong, there is just no time to teach an old dog new tricks. A new thing can not be replaced by an old thing,, for something to function very adequately , an ideal solution is to replace it or renew it by a new thing.i believe people with recent knowledege and skills can perform better than just old experience. Another fundamental and prominet determinat of success and development is ''Chance''. Chance is an inevitable part and parcel of life... and therefore i suggest it is much more adventageous if shared '''Ntate give others... [Read Full Text]
GOD BLESS THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE, DOWN WITH MUGABE
Mogabe must just give another candidate a chance to do better than him.He failed to impress his country from 1980 till today.He must go an rest and give others a chance.
If he refuse to release the result because he know he losed,other countries must get involved to rescue Zimbabwean peoples.The best party will be the one that will win the election because peoples will vote for their best one
Who ever deserve to win this election will be the one that should come an rescue Zimbabwe because Mogabe failed for 28 years without any improvement at his country
Mogabe... [Read Full Text]
This is an appeal to the international community to act swiftly and avoid the impending disaster in Zimbabwe. There is enough evidence to conclude that the ruling party is not going accept loss.
We do not need mass killings to intervene. Why should the powerful countries wait until people die in a situation that like this one? Mugabe should be forced to respect the people's rights or we are all responsible. Justice delayed is justice denied.
Buhle Mpofu
I agree with one of the contributors for the international community to step in now befoer it is too late for Zimbabwe as Mugabe is poised to rig at all cost.Ameria and Britain get ready to unleash yor marines as this is the best opportunity and excuse for an invasion should the people's wishes are ignored.
I pray that the people of Zimbabwe would not allow the devil to kiss them.In the end they will be the people who will look for treatment and not the politicians.Please learn something from what happened in Kenya and look to JESUS CHRIST and pray to GOD ALMIGHTY and HE will Redeem you GOD BLESSED THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE GOD BLESSED AFRICA AMEN
My brothers and sisters in the struggle for political power,emancipation, development and ego, please dont let your personal feelings overide your judgement. Power has to do with struggle. But do not let your struggle bring more woe on both Zimbabwe and Zimbanweans.
I am disturbed by the development in Zimbabwe. writing from Sierra Leone, i know what violence can bring. Please, Please, keep your sanity and patiently wait on the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to come out with its result.
Arguably, i agree with the suggestion that the delay is deliberate to enable tension subside. And Tension is subsiding.
Overzealousness and... [Read Full Text]
Everyone aseems to forget about slavery and colonialism on the Continent of Africa and the legacy left by Britain, whom backs the MDC with money and resources. The people may be seduced by stacks of money smuggled into Harare, but the revolutionaries won't let the people send themselves back into the clutches of the imperialists. Thats their duty. Besides, its the US and UK who make the people starve because they hold unfair IMF and World Bank loans over governments' heads who won't do their bidding. Go Zanu!
With all due respect, I don't know which planet you come from but it is time for Mr. Mugabe to leave. The president has been in power for so long and has not achieved a thing, yet he wants to stay in power. How far down does Mr. President want the country to go before he leaves office? The economy of Zimbabwe is in shambles, what else does Mr. Mugabe want? It is time for the international community to step in and show Mr. president the door.
The people of Zimbabwe are starving!!! Nobody cares. Not there neighbours nor the western world. Everybody has hidden agendas and Zimbabwe is the porn in the game. Mugabe has been donated millions of $ in cash as well as food aid. Where has all this gone?. The food aid has been allowed to be squandered, stolen or simply sold for gain. The $ well only old Bob could answer that. While his country is starving he is having big birthday bashes and vacations to Malaysia. BUT still no one cares. Then... [Read Full Text]
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