afrol News, 31 March - Today, Zimbabweans are going to the polls to elect a new parliament. While there has been less reported violence than in previous elections, most commentators predict that these elections will not be free and fair, with many, including senior academics, trade unionists and NGO's warning that whatever the outcome, ordinary Zimbabweans face an ongoing political and economic crisis.

This year's parliamentary polls have been much more peaceful than Zimbabwe's two previous elections, all sources agree. Less violence was reported during the electoral campaign and today's voting process generally has gone peacefully. A high voter turnout is reported from all over Zimbabwe.

Despite these improvements, very few hold that the elections have been held in a free and fair manner. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has reported several attacks on their supporters and candidates. The MDC has also reported a wealth of dirty tricks by the ruling ZANU-PF party of President Robert Mugabe.

MDC spokesman Nkanyiso Mageda today said that opposition activists have found a print shop that was turning out thousands of leaflets with the party emblem saying that it was withdrawing from the race. Other false leaflets with the MDC emblem urging voters to boycott the poll earlier this week had been circulated in opposition strongholds.

Also the current legal situation in Zimbabwe greatly favoured the ruling party. The MDC has been denied to organise several rallies. Laws affecting the press have shut down most independent newspapers, leaving the state-controlled press with a virtual monopoly. According to the Zimbabwe Media Monitoring Project, the ruling ZANU-PF has continued to receive positive publicity in the government-controlled dailies throughout the campaign. "The MDC was only mentioned in the context of ZANU PF officials' vilification of the party."

Further, the Zimbabwean government has banned election observer teams from most countries and organisations that were suspected of voicing critical comments. Election observer groups are mainly from Southern African countries where governments are on friendly terms with the Mugabe regime. The same observers earlier had praised Zimbabwean poll that were deemed rigged and unfair by more independent teams.

Most observers predict that ZANU-PF will win a comfortable majority in today's election, but not without significant rigging of the results. The outcome of this foreseen victory is however still unsure as Zimbabweans are mobilising to defend their votes. Recent democratisation victories in Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan have provided hope for opposition activists.

Brian Raftopoulous of the University of Zimbabwe last week noted that, "as things stand, the script has almost been finalised for a continuation of the political crisis in Zimbabwe. There is unlikely to be a sufficient consensus amongst the regional and international players on the outcome of the election and the stalemate, while slightly repositioned, is likely to continue."

- A favourable election result for ZANU-PF, under the current election arrangements, is once again not likely to convince any but the already converted, Mr Raftopoulous added. "It may confirm that the ruling party has its hands firmly on the levers of state, but cannot deliver the broader legitimacy that will provide the impetus for a new political initiative in the country."

Also prominent Zimbabweans, such as Archbishop Pius Ncube, criticised the poll results well in advance. "No way will elections kick out ZANU-PF. They cheated in 2000 and 2002," Archbishop Ncube said earlier this month. "They will rig these elections. And when they do, I hope that people get so disillusioned that they really organise against this government and kick them out by a non-violent, popular mass uprising."

Zimbabwe underground opposition groups such as Zvakwana have already urged the MDC to take the leadership in a peaceful mass protest against the election results, which were sure to be rigged. "Civil society's voice needs to be supported with the people power the MDC is able to mobilise. Without MDC's active collaboration to commit and mobilise its rank and file in support of these protests, civil society's efforts will be all bark and no bite."

In an open letter to MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, the group said it believed that the MDC and civil society "cannot possibly accept the results of this forthcoming election. More than that, they cannot simply reject the election results through legal challenges, or press statements, or observer briefings. We need a unified, well-led, coordinated protest regardless of the outcome of these elections," the Zvakwana letter said.

By staff writers

© afrol News

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