Mugabe Set to Claim Victory in Zimbabwe Despite Election Reports
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Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe is set to claim victory in the country’s recent election, despite many reports that he received significantly less votes than opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai. Once prosperous, Zimbabwe suffers from the world’s highest inflation rate, chronic shortages of food and fuel, a steep increase in HIV/AIDS rates and a decline in life expectancy.
From IWPR:
In what can best be described as a shock result, President Robert Mugabe and his ruling ZANU-PF party are about to announce victory for Mugabe in the parliamentary and presidential elections, according to unofficial results leaked from the ZANU-PF and Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, ZEC, command centres.
But sources within the ZEC centre - newly christened the National Collation Centre - say Mugabe clearly lost the election to his opposition rival Morgan Tsvangirai, polling only 20 per cent of the vote. He is also said to trail Simba Makoni who garnered 28 per cent.
And from the Washington Post:
A sheet of blue paper hanging on the notice board of a drab community hall told the tale of a remarkable upset:
President Robert Mugabe: 3,066 votes.
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai: 8,154 votes.…The electoral commission remained silent more than 24 hours after polls closed, but Zimbabweans took it upon themselves to tabulate results on pieces of paper gradually appearing outside 9,000 polling stations across the country…Outside another polling station in Chinhoyi, a 38-year-old law student marveled that the results were available for all to see. “In the past it was hidden. You couldn’t see what was on the ground,” the student said. “Now you know.”
Read more from the full IWRP and Washington Post articles.
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March 31, 2008 at 3:09 pm
This has gone too far. What makes it more painful is that SADCC leaders are saying nothing. They are blind to the cause of the people of Zimbabwe. The world looks while Zimbabwe burns. They are waiting for a genocide to happen firts before they can intervene, but why not do something now before the situation deteriorates into another Kenya-Fiasco. Its sad indeed. The UN is silent, Uk and USA have said little, Mbeki is silent. Why?????????? Are you waiting for blood to flow in the streets of Harare first?? We are a peace loving people and that is why we have been so quiet. We can only take it for this long. A Mugabe win is a non-starter. Nooooooooooooooooooo! Noooooooooooooooo! Mugabe has lost and no more rigging!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 1, 2008 at 9:25 am
fingers crossed…
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/02/world/africa/02zimbabwe.html?hp
April 1, 2008 at 10:24 am
THis is really unfair!!!!!!!!!!! Mugabe is making these poor people suffer and his rule needs to be put to an end! I think that someone needs to step up and defend the people of zimbabwe and help them because they have suffered long enough! I am really praying that he will not be in command any longer and i wish the best of luck to everyone!!!!!!!!