Zimbabwe: Morgan Tsvangirai's Post-Election Statement

press release

Photo: xinhua
A voter gets his ballot at a polling station in Harare, capital of Zimbabwe.

Harare — This election has been a huge farce. Its credibility has been marred by administrative and legal violations which affect the legitimacy of its outcome.

There are two critical issues: 1. The election does not meet SADC Guidelines. It is a sham election that does not reflect the will of the people.

1.1 Voters' Roll

-Thousands failed to register and were disenfranchised

-Not delivered timeously as required by law

- No proper inspection of the voters' roll to verify authenticity

- Duplication of names on the voters roll

-Unauthorised movement of voters from their wards (leading to almost 40% voters being turned away anddisenfranchised)

1.2 Manipulation of voters' choice - Voters forced to plead illiteracy and resort to "assistance".

1.3 Use of traditional leaders (chiefs and headmen) to intimidate voters.

1.4 Unauthorised voter migration - Voters bussed into constituencies to vote eg Harare South, Epworth

1.5 Unaccounted for voters especially in farming areas

2. Failure to implement SADC reforms

2.1 Media reform

2.2 Security sector

I have met with the chair of the AU observer mission, former Nigerian President Obasanjo, head of the SADC observer mission, Minister Mmembe and I have given a diplomatic briefing. The message we have given is that this is not a credible election. It does not reflect the will of the people of Zimbabwe.

For the above reasons, the election has been heavilymanipulated. In our view, the outcome of this election is illegitimate. But more importantly, the shoddy manner in which it has been conducted and the consequent illegitimacy of the result will plunge this country into a serious crisis.

  • Comment (5)

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Comments Post a comment

  • kitnaik
    Aug 1 2013, 10:25

    self fulfilling prophercy-----they are rigging---they are rigging----they have rigged!!!!! Hahahahah kikikiki stupid being MDC!! Didn't you just tell us you were on the ball all yah!!!!!

  • kjrs120
    Aug 1 2013, 17:08

    MDC was on the ball alright, attempting to do everything right. THAT is what it's called "noble." MDC cannot nanny Zanu-PF in how it (zanu-PF) chooses to conduct elections. Right from the start, there were implementations outstanding which needed to be completed before elections just as the United State's president Obama stressed during his visit to Africa.

  • mrzyphl
    Aug 1 2013, 17:56

    What is the SADC's contingency plan when they are confronted with evidence of massive fraud?

    If they call for new elections Mugabe will tell them to sod off. Instead, they will beg Tsvangirai to concede defeat to avoid upheaval and civil unrest. This time Morgan will not give in and we'll watch ZanuPF gradually implode.

    Viva Zimbabwe!

  • kjrs120
    Aug 1 2013, 22:52

    Zanu-Pf CANNOT run Zimbabwe without an encore of the dire straits experienced before the MDC faction took guard making some semblance to "normality" in a broken, stinking, and sinking country. With Mugabe, it's back to the jungle and that's no maybe. He has proved it.

  • Mutetwa
    Aug 2 2013, 08:32

    Morgan Tsvangirai is the traitor, he promised MDC supporters and the nation he could do it but the truth is he has failed the man has no plan, blame who ever you want to blame, you followed a blind man don't cry wolf the writing was on the wall we have been blogging since 2008 we all know the truth MDC leadership is rotten to the core, it needs change of leadership to make good the debts it has created to the Zimbabwean nation

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