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The number of constituencies for each party fairly reflects the actual numbers of votes they obtained. While Zanu-PF got 1,20 million votes, they were tangled by the MDC with their 1,17 million votes. Speculations about the redrawing of constituencies before the elections thus seem to have had little effect on the fairness of the elections.
Morgan Tsvangirai, the MDC leader, did not win a seat in parliament. Although contesting the legitimacy of the elections in general, Tsvangirai accepted his personal defeat in his constituency. There where other prominent figures loosing their seat in parliament. These includes Mugabe's minister of justice, home affairs and of environment and tourism. However, Robert Mugabe's sister, Sabina defended her seat, such as Chenjerai Hunzvi, leader of the "War Vets" and prime responsible of much of the election intimidation and occupation of white farms.
The first numbers were promising for the MDC - three of three constituencies, and a vote for the MDC between 66% and 83%. Later, more and more Zanu-PF constituencies have been counted, slowly turning the tide in favour of Zanu-PF. As the results came in, it became clear that Zanu-PF would win the elections, counting with the 30 MPs Mugabe is to elect.
Anyhow, the results seriously have changed the political face of Zimbabwe, only to mention the MDC's possibility to block constitutional amends in the parliament. Mugabe has made parliament change the constitution 16 times in his 20 years of power. Further, unity in Zanu-PF is fragile and the electoral process has been an eye-opener for many party members. Now, there exists an alternative and many Zanu-PF MPs realize the need for change in Zimbabwe. The MDC thus might gain support for some changes, playing their cards well.
Urban-rural difference The trends generally were positive for the MDC in more urban areas. In Harare, the MDC won all constituencies, a total of 19. The victory was significant, MDC candidates far gaining around 80% of the votes. Also in Bulawayo, were all the constituencies were counted early, the MDC won eight out of eight candidates. All were won with a comfortable margin, Mr. Ncube in the Bulawayo North constituency even winning 87% of the votes.
Zanu-PF victory was clear in the more rural districts of Mashonaland. There are 34 constituencies in the three provinces of Mashonaland, and Zanu-PF won 31 of them. Victory, however, was not that clear in most of these constituencies and ranged between 50% and 85%. Mashonaland has also been an area of massive intimidation.
The numbers
Call for reconciliation Mugabe's first reaction to the results were a call for national reconciliation. "I look forward to work with the new parliament, were we together will fight for the increasing challenge of improving the standards of living of our people and develop our nation," he said in a TV speech. He congratulated all the new MPs with their victory, especially those from the opposition. "The results are know. They bind us together no matter if winner or looser," the president said.
Mugabe, who has not said whether he will stand again in the next presidential election scheduled in the year 2002, said the parliamentary elections had put the country on firmer ground to strengthen its democracy.
Also Tsvangirai sounded more reconsolidating today, pointing out the possibilities of working together with alienated Zanu-PF MP's towards a change. "Our primary aim is to restore confidence in the country. This is not the time for partisanship. We have to focus on rebuilding this nation and moving forward. I know there will be people who are disappointed but we need to remain focused on the fact that people have given us a mandate for democratic change." He thereby clearly indicated that MDC followers should remain calm and let the party handle possible challenges to the election results in a formal way.
Filing a complaint It is already clear that the results will be challenged. Even if the two days of the election were relatively calm, there is enough documentation of irregularities before the election. The MDC will complain about the result in some 20 constituencies were it considers that these irregularities have affected the results directly. "In any area where we lost by a margin of 500 or less we will ask for a recount. And in some areas we will take additional legal action. As an example, in Marondera East as an example, we lost that seat by 63 votes," Tsvangirai has stated.
There is no doubt that the irregularities have contributed much to the results. In the final three weeks before people went to vote Mashonaland East reported endless barricades, farmworkers and villagers being beaten or forced to march through lines of ZanuPF, farmers being threatened, crops being burnt, the farms of small communal farmers being destroyed, shops looted and houses burned to the ground. Intimidation and illegal actions like the confiscation of ID cards was heaviest in rural areas, and it was here Zanu-PF got their constituencies. Even if it looks like the MDC in general will accept the results, which is to say, not go any further than placing legal action to challenge them, there is a common agreement upon the unfairness of the elections.
International reactions Observers in general were skeptical in their description of the elecetion. General Abdulsalami Abubakar, head of the Commonwealth observer group in Zimbabwe, said in a preliminary statement: "We would draw attention, in particular, to the inability of a substantial number of electors to cast their ballots, inconsistencies in polling day procedures, last minute changes to the electoral laws, and the late accreditation of the domestic election observers."
"Our major concern during the time we have been in Zimbabwe has been the nature, duration and scale of politically-motivated violence and intimidation," Abubakar continued. "This violence and intimidation was most serious in some rural areas, where we have observed a climate of fear and uncertainty amongst the people. In some districts intimidation prevented open campaigning, notably by opposition parties and candidates."
However, Mugabe was critical of the statements on the election by some of the international observers: "Among our guests were some, who much in the mode of the Victorian 'civilising mission', thought they had come to pacify, give virtue and thus redeem the 'natives'." Mugabe was especially hinting to the leader of the EU observers, Schori, which had made a much quoted statement saying there was nothing free and fair about the elections.
Also foreign governments have reacted to the Zimbabwean elections, which must be the African electoral process which has gained most mass media and public interest throughout history. The elections have been headline news in most of the world. Thus, reactions have come throughout the process, the condemnation of Mugabe and the intimidation dominating. Many Western countries have already cut their aid to Zimbabwe to a minimum and are threatening to cut even more. The European Union (EU) awaits the official report of their observers and plans further cuts if this report verifies the intimidation which has been reported in the media or if Mugabe does not pave for changes.
South African government has held a low profile during the electorate process in the neighbouring country. As the results were clear, ANC spokesman congratulated Zanu-PF on their victory and claimed that the elections were proof of democracy taking root in Zimbabwe and Africa. COSATU, the South Africa trade union, showed more courage in placing the blame for the violence in government hands. "Government turned a blind eye to land invasions and openly encouraged illegal occupation of land. In COSATU’s view, the land question was cynically used to manipulate public opinion and to masks the failure of the Zimbabwean government to address this issue for 20 years," the union stated today.
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afrol.com,
28 June - 62 of the 120 constituencies were won by the
government party. Further, Mugabe may elect 30 MPs by his own
will, giving the Zanu-PF a comfortable majority. The MDC,
however, may block constitutional amends.
