Zimbabwe elections
3 million have voted

afrol.com, 26 June - As the poll stations closed yesterday at 5 pm, over 60% of the electorate had voted. 3 million voters indicates that the intimidation has not had its effect on the electorate, a positive sign for the MDC. However, Zanu-PF president John Nkomo has already indicated that the constitution gives president Mugabe the right to name a possible Zanu-PF minority government - a possibility Mugabe reportedly seriously is considering. The results of the elections are expected on Wednesday.

The elections stared quietly June 24 at over 4000 poll stations at 7 am. Signs were positive that the feared intimidations would not proceed. Later on, however, reports of intimidation were being received from around the country. However, international observers noted that the irregularities during the election itself were not as grave as feared. 

Observers: Few irregularities

Still, elections have in no way been fair. The leader of the EU group of election observers, the Swede Pierre Schori, last night stated on a press conference that "the level of violence and intimidation in the pre-electoral phase means that the term free and fair is not applicable in these elections". Further, he assessed that some 7% of the electorate were not able to vote due to errors in the voters rolls. This was highly criticized. Schori, however, was fairly content with the implementation of the election itself, saying that the personnel on the poll stations in general had handled the situation in a professional way.

Schori has been leading some 190 EU observers which had passed by 1900 of the 4000 poll stations since Saturday morning. In general the Zimbabwean electorate had had an easier access to the poll stations than the international observers, Schori commented on skepticism towards the observers.

Also Tony Yengeni (ANC), who headed a team of 20 South African observers, reported that the election itself had been characterized by tranquility, according to the Daily Mail & Guardian (S.A.). Yengeni did not want to pass his general verdict on the elections yet, emphasizing on the counting process which was still to begin.

While EU and S.A. observers were surprised by what they called a professional implementation of the elections themselves, MDC complained of what they called massive intimidation also during the election itself. Already the first day of the election, the MDC documented a long list of more or less grave irregularities, the typical being an incident in Highlands School polling station. Here, four local monitors ejected from the polling booth by the presiding officer just after international observers passed through. The MDC also questioned the professionalism of international observers in various occasions.

Mugabe considers Zanu-PF minority government

Zanu-PF president John Nkomo has already indicated that the constitution gives president Mugabe the right to name a possible Zanu-PF minority government - a possibility Mugabe reportedly seriously is considering. "Zanu-PF will most definitely form the next government whatever the result of the legislative election," Nkomo told in a media briefing on Sunday. The constitution gives the right to name a government to the president and it does not obligate him in any way how to name a government.

MDC opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, already a favorite to win the elections, reacts calmly to the statements from Zanu-PF, repeating that "Mugabe is already history". However, his most devoted voters will not take such a decision by Mugabe with such tranquility.

Chitungwiza is one of the poorest townships of the country, with over one million inhabitants. It was the scene of the 1998 "Maize Revolution", in which the township protested against a rise of the price of maize and the army intervention killed nine people and hurt an unknown number all over the country. This was the first manifestation of the Zimbabweans against the policy of Mugabe. The second was the February referendum. Now, while counting the votes, the township of Chitungwiza is the one that most threatens Mugabe's position. People here know that Mugabe has gone too far and will not accept any more. If Mugabe does not respect the results of the general election, there is talk of a widespread rebellion. "Then, Mugabe won't have to kill us by tens, like he has done it until now, but by thousands, if he wants to control the situation".

The counting of the votes is already in progress. The Registrar General claimed the first results were to come around 5 pm (local time) today. However, it is generally expected that the first results actually only will be published this night due to the huge turnout of voters. Final results are not expected until Wednesday.

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