Zimbabwe 
The elections are in progress!

afrol.com, 24 June - Zimbabweans have started going to the polls, attending to this weekend's fateful parliamentary elections. The two-day poll started shortly after 7 am in over 4 000 polling stations all over the country. So far, there have been no reports of violence during the poll. 

However the outcome, these elections will forever change the face of the young Zimbabwean nation. These parliamentary elections are largely a race between President Robert Mugabe's governing party Zanu-PF and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) headed by Morgan Tsvangirai. However, ther are a total of 15 parties participating, along with some 90 independent candidates.

There is no belief in that the political tension will ease after the elections, neither through an MDC victory nor a Zanu-PF victory. This because a possible Zanu-PF victory already has been contributed to widespread election fraud and intimidation, and a possible MDC victory not is believed to be accepted by militant Mugabe supporters ("war veterans"). The question is rather whether the expected reactions can be controlled, while there still is possibility for a national reconciliation.

Record poll

The participation seems to reach record numbers, in spite of the widespread violence in the electoral campaign, where intimidating possible MDC voters from participating has been one of the main tactics of the Zanu-PF. More than five million voters (of a population of 12 million!) have registered to be able to vote in the elections. These high numbers markedly contrast the previous public indifference in elections

Observers are impressed of the political consciousness recently arisen in the Zimbabwean populace. It could seem that the strategy of the Zanu-PF, trying to intimidate the voters, has only had the opposite effect, of alienating the public. On the other hand, the Zanu-PF has organised massive campaigns to register potential voters in the districts were they expect the majority, not abstaining from registering groups that are not allowed to participate in the elections (foreigners, etc.).

Tsvangirai voted in Buhera North

Morgan Tsvangirai, president of the MDC voted in his home constituency of Buhera North this morning at the polling station at the Buhera District Office.

Accompanying Tsvangirai was his wife, Susan. His mother Lydia (69) and his father, Dzingirai (72), a retired bricklayer, will vote at a nearby school which is closer to the family home.

A few hours before he cast his vote, Tsvangirai reflected, "the die is cast. This is the day we move forward as a country, or backward into an economic abyss. Hope is our future." The MDC mostly has capitalised on the deep economic crisis to challenge to ruling Zanu-PF.

"We have had liberation for 20 years, but this vote is about real freedom." He said he felt an "inner excitement, but I am also aware of the huge challenges and responsibilities, my vote and that of every Zimbawean carries." Despite of the seriousness of the moment, Tsvangirai felt sure of the support of the Zimbabwean. Only yesterday he stated to the Zimbabwe Independent Newspaper that “a Zanu- PF majority would be an indication of vast rigging on the ground,” indicating that under fair conditions, the MDC would be certain of achieving parliamentary majority. 

Tsvangirai left his home in Harare early to travel to Buhera. He will vote, visit a few constituencies in the area and then travel back to Harare today.

President Mugabe will vote in Harare later today.

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