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Zimbabwe: Opposition Pulls Out of Election
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22 June 2008
Posted to the web 22 June 2008
Oppostion leader Morgan Tsvangirai has pulled out of Zimbabwe's presidential run-off election.
In broadcasts monitored in South Africa, Tsvangirai described the election campaign as a "violent, illegimate sham of an election process."
He appealed for the African Union and the United Nations to act to prevent "genocide" in the country.
Tsvangirai made the announcement in Harare Sunday after extensive debate within his Movement for Democratic Change. It came against the backdrop of rising violence and intimidation in the buildup to the election, scheduled to be held on June 27. Dozens of activists have been killed, hundreds injured and thousands forced from their homes.
Militia organised by President Robert Mugabe's ruling Zanu PF are responsible for most of the violence, with army and police officers either participating or turning a blind eye to attacks on opposition supporters.
Tsvangirai has been detained repeatedly while campaigning. His party secretary-general, Tendai Biti, has been charged with treason and remanded in custody until after election day. State media have denied publicity to the opposition.
Tsvangirai won the first round of the presidential election on March 29, but the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission said he did not draw the majority to avoid a run-off.
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Read Tsvangirai's full statement
It's sad that its come to this. Its sad that the will of the people cannot be heard. Mugabe's plan to harrass, torture, murder and intimidate the opposition out has worked. Its a sad sad day for Zimbabwe.
It is quite obvious that he pulled out or was ordered to pull out because it was becoming more certain every day that he was going to lose on June 27th. Now he and his sponsors will start working on plan B or is it plan J by now. It all can turn into a happy day for Zimbabwe if those like you can convince the West to lift the economy-crippling sanctions or if Zimbabwe's true friends step up to the plate and give them some real help in overcoming what has been externally imposed on them in order to... [Read Full Text]
You are obviously CIO and as thick as a brick
djoser35 - You are obviously CIO or Mugabe and as thick as a brick. To do the unexpected might actually be the way to go.
obviously democracy has failed in zimbabwe;but what is the solution to this problem. if zimbabwe was a self professed communist country this may have been a little easier to swallow, but to consider it in anyway similar to democracy is extremely disturbing. regargless if the bbc or whoever else is exaggerating about the conditions in zimbabwe such images of so many different individuals being mutalated for the same freedoms we in the west claim to wage our wars against tyranny is an obvious reminder of how easily the world can tell itself it is moral and just and at the... [Read Full Text]
It is a sad day for Africa. It is a sad day for the entire continent. Every African person should be weeping over this. When will our politicians learn to change government without resort to shameless evil tactics!! Oh Africa! I cry for you. What a shame upon us. By the way readers, I hope you know that what is happening in Zimbabwe is not confined to Zimbabwe. It has happened in other countries like Kenya and Uganda. Oh Africa, when will your star ever shine!!!!! Indeed it is not yet Uhuru for you.
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