According to the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) this photo shows the remains of polling agent Gift Mutsvungu, whose body was found in a suburb of Harare. The MDC says 113 of it's supporters have now been killed in Zimbabwe.
Probably the world could be a better place without the type of politicians we have today. A lot of noise has been made about the current crisis in Zimbabwe, but not much is seen in terms of action. Robert Mugabe is bound to remain in power through violence and intimidation. It's so sad because the whole world is watching and making a lot of noise yet nothing meaningful seems to be happening to rid Zimbabwe of the not so wanted Robert Mugabe.
Zimbabweans were expecting the United Nations to make a statement by imposing sanctions on Mugabe and his henchman....such as a freeze on assets and travel restrictions.
Thanks to Russia and China, we may be destined for five more years of Robert Mugabe rule in Zimbabwe. Can we really afford that Zimbabwe? Hell NO!!
If Mugabe is that good, maybe the Russians and the Chinese can have him......probably he can do to their countries and people what he has done to the citizens of Zimbabwe.
But did anyone expect the Chinese Government, which has been accused of human rights violations to support any pressure against Mugabe?
So, is the UN supporting what Mugabe is doing in Zimbabwe by it's failure to take action?
Join the debate by posting your comments.
Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe has tried to defend his government and his 'policies' of Mass Distraction. He blames everyone else but himself for the current political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe. He blames the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Britain, America, Australia and other Western countries.
But the more Mugabe talks, the longer he stays in power, the more people hate him. So why is this man who was once regarded as a Hero now the one everybody loves to hate?
Is it blind faith? Or is it desperation?
After the failure by Africa leaders to pass a firm resolution on Zimbabwe at the just ended Africa Union summit in Egypt, can we really trust these African leaders to find a solution to the Zimbabwe crisis?
The people of Zimbabwe were denied their democratic right to freely choose whom they want to be president of the country and all the African Union summit did was to tighten Mugabe's grip on power.
Zimbabwean people have suffered and are likely to continue suffering under Robert Mugabe's rule. Within the country, Zimbabweans have no capacity to deal with the violence unleashed on them by Zanu PF thugs and those rogue elements who call themselves war veterans.
It is this suffering which led Zimbabweans to blindly believe that the African Union can solve the crisis in the country.
How could we expect leaders like, President Bongo of Gambia to say anything against Mugabe. Remember Mugabe said, "I want to see which African leader is going to point a finger at me, and we want to see if their hands are clean." How many African leaders showed their clean hands at the summit?
Save for a few, the rest showed they had dirty hands, (they have blood on their hands) by supporting Mugabe.
Robert Mugabe left the African Union summit with a firm grip on power in Zimbabwe:
At the just ended summit in Egypt, African leaders passed a resolution saying the AU was concerned with the situation in Zimbabwe and would encourage Mr Mugabe to initiate dialogue with Mr Tsvangirai "for the creation of a government of national unity."
How could we trust Robert Mugabe to initiate constructive negotiations without trying to bully the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)?
- the same Mugabe who declared war on the innocent citizens of Zimbabwe and declared himself president after his 'bloody' one-candidate election re-run.
- the same Robert Mugabe who said only 'God' can remove him from power.
- the same Robert Mugabe who said Morgan Tsvangirai will not be allowed to be president of Zimbabwe even if he wins the elections.
With the exception of a few like, Raila Odinga, Kenya Prime Minister, Mompati Merafhe, Botswana vice-President, President Koroma of Sierra Loene, African leaders can not be trusted with the future of Zimbabwe. They alone will not resolve this crisis as long as they continue to play the 'colonialism' card, neither can we trust Mugabe to negotiate in good faith.
In the meantime Zimbabweans continue to suffer.
Debate: Have your say by posting your comments.
It's a shame! It's an embarrassment! or maybe funny? Watch the video of the ranting Zimbabwe president.
A Channel 4 journalist, Julian Mannion nearly got a taste of the violence that Zimbabwe president, Robert Mugabe's thugs have been unleashing on innocent Zimbabweans.
Julian Mannion was man-handled by Mugabe's bodyguards as he attempted to question the under pressure Zimbabwe president.
Robert Mugabe declared himself president of Zimbabwe after his one-candidate presidential election run-off which has been condemned as being unfair and marred by violence.
Have your say by posting your comments, tell us what you think.
African Union Leaders meeting at a summit in Egypt should openly tell Zimbabwe's Mugabe that his one-candidate election run-off is illegitimate and he should negotiate with the opposition MDC for his exit from power. Robert Mugabe is widely accused of human rights violations in Zimbabwe, and his one-candidate election run-off in the country has now been condemned by all three Africa groups monitoring the vote.
A team from the African Union monitoring the vote said, the Zimbabwe presidential run-off election fell short of standards set by the African Union.
This comes after the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) and the Pan-Africa parliament observer teams also condemned the Zimbabwe elections as not being free and fair and marred by violence.
Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe arrived at an African Union summit in Sharm EL-Sheikh, Egypt on Monday. Robert Mugabe, 84, flew to Egypt overnight after being sworn in for a sixth term of office.
All eyes are now on the African Union summit to see how they receive Robert Mugabe. Will African leaders reject him as illegitimate? Or they going to let down Zimbabwe again?
Robert Mugabe has failed to adhere to the guidelines on holding democratic elections as set by Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), African Union (AU) and Pan-Africa parliament. All observer groups allowed to monitor elections in Zimbabwe by the Mugabe government.
If Robert Mugabe was expecting the African observers to turn a blind eye on his shameful, violent and unfair election and give him that seal of approval he so desires, then he got it wrong this time. He is probably facing unprecedented criticism from some of his once 'loyal' African leaders.
There are chances African leaders will fail the Zimbabwean people again, but we hope they will be brave enough to directly confront Robert Mugabe.
No sane Zimbabwean could have freely and willingly voted for five more years of Robert Mugabe rule. Who would vote for more years of misery? Who would vote for more years of shortages and starvation?
Robert Mugabe was sworn in on Sunday after an overwhelming victory in his one man election which observers said was scarred by violence and intimidation. The Southern Africa Development Community observer mission said the election had been marred by pre-election violence and did not reflect the will of Zimbabwean people.
Pan-African Parliament observers also said the election was flawed and should be re-run.
The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) who have stood by Mugabe in the past, said the vote did not conform to regional election guidelines, despite voting on election day being peaceful.
"Based on the above-mentioned observation, the mission is of the view that the prevailing environment impinged on the credibility of the electoral process," said a statement from SADC.
In a relatively peaceful election in March, Morgan Tsvangirai of the opposition won the election and his Movement for Democratic Change party got the majority in parliament. The election showed the wish of Zimbabweans, they don't want Mugabe any more.
What happened after is disgraceful and a shame really.
Violence was unleashed on innocent Zimbabweans, thousands were displaced from the villages. The opposition says 90 of it's members were killed by government militias, many more were tortured and women were raped during the campaign for the election run-off. The opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai was forced to withdraw from the elections.
One day we will get a Zimbabwe without Robert Mugabe, but what an expensive price Zimbabwean people have paid. All because Mugabe doesn't want to leave power.
Is Robert Mugabe taking the mickey out of Morgan Tsvangirai?
Otherwise how can he invite the same Tsvangirai he forced to withdraw from the election run-off through violence, to his inauguration?
Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), has rejected a government invitation to the inauguration of President Robert Mugabe for a new term of office and has called on Africa not to recognise his 're-election'.
"Well, you know that the whole inauguration is meaningless as far as I'm concerned, so I can't give support to an exercise I'm totally opposed to......the whole world has condemned it, the Zimbabwean people will not give this exercise legitimacy and support," said Tsvangirai.
Meanwhile Morgan Tsvangirai has also said he is committed to a negotiated settlement to the country's political crisis.
Tsvangirai said, "There are no talks going on, but the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) remains committed to finding a negotiated settlement for the people of Zimbabwe. We are putting it into the hands of the AU (African Union), I hope that from then on, a process can be put in place that is acceptable to both parties."
Zimbabwe's future maybe in the hands of other African leaders, but will Africa do enough now to influence events in Zimbabwe? At the coming African Union summit in Egypt we will see if we can trust African leaders to solve the crisis in Zimbabwe.
We are going to see who are the real enemies of the people of Zimbabwe. All those who are waiting to send congratulation messages to Robert Mugabe on his 'election' as president of Zimbabwe for another five-year term of office.
All those leaders who are going to attend Mugabe's inauguration are also part of the problems affecting the people of Zimbabwe today through their continued support of Robert Mugabe. Getting rid of Mugabe is the only answer to Zimbabwe's problems.
Have your say by posting your comments.
The Pan-African parliament observers, one of a few groups allowed to monitor the elections in Zimbabwe, said the one man Mugabe versus Mugabe election was so flawed it should be rerun.
Mugabe will not care much about what the observers say because he never meant for the elections to be Free and Fair.
Robert Mugabe is set to be inaugurated for a new five-year term of office before attending a African Union summit in Egypt on Monday. Where he will confront his African critics and once again take the opportunity to attack Western governments like he always do. Robert Mugabe blames everyone else but himself for the current crisis in Zimbabwe.
The elections have been marred by violence, torture, rape and killings of opposition supporters, which forced opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to pull out of the elections.
"The current atmosphere prevailing in the country did not give rise to conditions for the holding of free and fair democratic elections. These elections were not free and fair," said Marwick Khumalo, head of Pan-African parliament observer team.
"Conditions should be put in place for the holding of free, fair and credible elections as soon as possible in line with the African Union declaration on the principles governing democratic elections," said Khumalo.
Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF party lost the disputed March 29 elections in which Morgan Tsvangirai won but did not get the 50 percent majority vote forcing the election run-off.
Can Zimbabwe afford another fives more years of Mugabe rule?
Robert Mugabe will be inaugurated as the next president of Zimbabwe for the next five years on Sunday after a bogus 'landslide' victory in his Mugabe versus Mugabe election run-off.
The election has been widely condemned and African observers said it was unfair and scarred by violence and intimidation.
Government sources said Robert Mugabe's swearing in for a new five-year term of office was imminent: "The ceremony is going to be at 3 p.m (1300GMT) and the invitations are being sent out."
Mugabe was the only candidate after Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) withdrew because of government backed violence against his supporters. The opposition MDC says nearly 90 of its supporters have been killed by Mugabe's militias and Morgan Tsvangirai was arrested on several occasions before he pulled out of the election.
With Mugabe set to be president for the next five years, what is the future like for Zimbabwe?
Whatever Mugabe decides to do next, Zimbabwe will never be the same again after this bogus election.
Have your say by posting your comments.
Even when Robert Mugabe is competing against himself, can you believe they can not even give the results on time. Zimbabwe election officials said on Saturday the results from the Robert Mugabe against Robert Mugabe election have been delayed and they hope to announce the outcome on Sunday.
"Tonight we can not give the results. I don't want to give a time-frame, but I hope it will be tomorrow," Utoile Silaigwana the deputy chief elections officer for the Zimbabwe Election Commission said.
Robert Mugabe was the only candidate after Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew from the election a week ago. Mugabe is expected to win the run-off election and his inaugurated is expected to be on Sunday in time to attend an African Union summit in Egypt on Monday.
Even violence could not win Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, a minister in Robert Mugabe's government a parliamentary seat. Enough is enough!
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) candidate Samuel Sandla Khumalo won the Mpopoma-Pelandaba constituency by-election. Robert Mugabe's information minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu lost in an election held on the same day as Mugabe's one man presidential election.
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) spokesman Nelson Chamisa said, "Our candidate Samuel Sndla Khumalo, has won the Mpopoma Pelanda by-election, defeating Zanu PF's Sikhanyiso Ndlovu by 3,795 votes to 1.354 votes."
Robert Mugabe is expected to win his one man presidential 'election'.
After today Zimbabwe will never be the same again. Zimbabwe voted on Friday in an election which will certainly end with Robert Mugabe declaring himself the winner. But Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change has dismissed it as meaningless.
The sad part is that the outcome of today's vote will not reflect the wish of the of Zimbabwean people. Zimbabweans have been subjected to violence, rape, tortured and some have paid with their lives because they dare support Morgan Tsvangirai instead of the 'God chosen Robert Mugabe'.
It's a shame that, even with the way things are in Zimbabwe today there are people who can still support Robert Mugabe.
For glorifying violence, declaring war and not doing anything to stop the violence against innocent Zimbabweans, does he deserve to be the president of Zimbabwe?
All Mugabe talks about is the all familiar, "Zimbabwe is not for sale and our sovereignty."
Why doesn't he talk about how he will tackle the following pressing issues:
a. High unemployment
b. Severe food shortages in the country
c. High Inflation, estimated to be around 2 million
d. Useless Zimbabwean dollar, currently exchanging at one (1) British pound to ZW$81 billion.
e. Collapse in the country's infrastructure
f. Collapse of public services
g. Corruption, incompetence and mismanagement of the economy
h. Violence, human rights and democracy
In fact there are so many issues which are far important to Zimbabweans than to hear Robert Mugabe continuously talk about his problems with Gordon Brown, Bush and other Western governments.
If Mugabe able to get Zimbabwe out of this mess? Feel free to contribute by posting your comment.
Voters in Zimbabwe went to the polls today as Robert Mugabe's one candidate presidential election run-off began. The election which has been widely condemned by world leaders, got off to a slow start across the country.
What is the point of having an election with only one candidate?
Robert Mugabe declared that Tsvangirai will never be president even if he wins the election, and because of the violence, rape, torture and murder of innocent Zimbabweans, Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out of the presidential run-off.
So, what is the point of having this election?
Robert Mugabe will declare himself the winner, but what does this mean to the Zimbabwean people. The people whose relatives have been killed, tortured and raped?
Does Robert Mugabe and the Zanu PF government have an idea on how to solve the current crisis in the country?
Have your say by posting your comments.
On the eve of the one candidate Zimbabwe presidential 'election' on Friday, Robert Mugabe has made a statement against the African Union leaders and the rest of the world. Robert Mugabe rejected calls to postpone the election, saying he will not be dictated to by anyone, not even the African Union.
"I know some people are gearing up for an attack on Zimbabwe. I want to see any country which will raise its finger in the African Union, our elections have been Free." said Robert Mugabe
Addressing a campaign rally in Chitungwiza, Robert Mugabe said - "we have some of our brothers in Africa making that call (to postpone the vote), pushing us to violate our own law and we have refused to do so, we are sticking to our law."
A security committee of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), which includes the current chairperson of the Africa Union Tanzania, on Wednesday called for the elections to be postponed, saying Robert Mugabe's re-election as the only candidate could lack legitimacy because of the use of violence.
Mugabe said there are countries in Africa who have had worse elections and their presidents are still in office. Mugabe want to see those African leaders who will raise a finger against him, and see if their hands are clean.
But is Robert Mugabe admitting that the conditions in Zimbabwe are not conducive for a Free and Fair election? But why does he keep talking of a presidential election when he has openly said only 'God' can remove him from power?
Attention: Honourable Justice Chiweshe
The Chairman
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission
7th Floor, Century House
HARARE
Dear Sir,
Re: PRESIDENTIAL RUN-OFF ELECTION SCHEDULED FOR THE 27TH JUNE 2008
I write this letter to advise you that for reasons set out in this letter, it is no longer possible for the holding of the Presidential run-off election set for the 27th June 2008.
I write this letter to advise you that for reasons set out in this letter, it is no longer possible for the holding of the Presidential run-off election set for the 27th June 2008.
In my considered view, the conditions presently obtaining throughout the country make it virtually impossible for a proper election envisaged in both the Constitution of Zimbabwe and the Electoral Act [Chapter 2.13] to take place. This being the case, the election scheduled for Friday 27th June 2008 cannot be an election as provided for by our law and accordingly, it will be a nullity if it were to be proceeded with.
Section 107 of the Electoral Act deals with the withdrawal of candidature from a Presidential election. Subsection 1 thereof provides that a nominated candidate for election as President may, by notice in writing addressed to the Chief Election Officer withdraw his or her candidature before 21 days from the day or first day as the case may be on which the poll in an election to the office of President is to be taken. This section in my respectful view does not apply to a Presidential run off election.
Section 110 (3) provides that where two or more candidates for President are nominated, and after a poll taken in terms of subsection (2) no candidate receives a majority of the total number of valid votes cast, a second election shall be held
within 21 days after the previous election. It is quite clear therefore that Section 107 (1) was clearly not designed for a presidential run-off election as it would not make sense to expect a candidate from a presidential run-off election to give 21 days notice of his/her withdrawal where such election has to be held within 21 days anyway.
Section 107(3) makes it much more clearer that Section 107 does not apply to a presidential run-off election. It provides that:-"where a candidate for election as President has withdrawn his/her candidature in terms of this section, the sum deposited by or on his behalf in terms of subsection (1) of Section 105 shall be
forfeited and form part of the funds of the commission". No money was ever deposited for the Presidential run-off election in terms of Section 105 by any candidate.
Furthermore, there has been no rules prescribed for the conduct of a presidential run-off election and in particular the notice period set for the withdrawal of candidature by a participant. Accordingly, any candidate wishing to withdraw his candidature is free to do so at any time before such an election.
In any event, as I have already pointed out, the election set for the 27th June 2008 is not a proper election but a nullity. In the circumstances, the question of the withdrawal from such an election and the notice thereof cannot be an issue.
REASONS FOR WITHDRAWAL
In terms of Section 61(4) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission is obliged by law to ensure that elections are conducted efficiently, freely, fairly, transparently and in accordance with the law.
Section 3 of the Electoral Act sets out in detail the principles which must govern democratic elections. This Section provides as follows:-
"Subject to the Constitution and this Act, every election shall be conducted in a way that is consistent with the following principles-
(a) the authority to govern derives from the will of the people demonstrated through elections that are conducted efficiently, freely, fairly, transparently and properly on the basis of universal and equal suffrage exercised through a secret ballot; and
(b) every citizen has the right-
(i) to participate in government directly or through freely chosen representatives, and is entitled, without distinction on the ground of race, ethnicity, gender,
language, political or religious belief, education, physical appearance or disability or economic or social condition, to stand for office and cast a vote freely;
(ii) to join or participate in the activities or and to recruit members of a political party of his or her choice;
(iii) to participate in peaceful political activity intended to influence the composition and policies of Government;
(iv) to participate, through civic organisations, in peaceful activities to influence and challenge the policies of Government; and
(c) every political party has the right-
(i) to operate freely within the law;
(ii) to put up or sponsor one or more candidates in every election;
(iii) to campaign freely within the law;
(iv) to have reasonable access to the media".
What has been going on in this country immediately after the elections held on the 29th March 2008 is a clear testimony that the elections scheduled for the 27th June 2008 cannot be held efficiently, freely, fairly, transparently and in accordance with the law.
On the 21st May 2008, after having noted the sad events that were happening, I instructed my Legal Practitioners Dube Manikai & Hwacha to write a letter to you setting out in detail various concerns which were an impediment to the holding of a free and fair election.
For ease of reference, I attach a copy of the said letter. Sadly, that letter was
neither acknowledged nor responded to. In my view, if your commission had taken steps to abide by its constitutional mandate, the situation would have probably not worsened. Regrettably, the situation since the letter from my lawyers has worsened to such an extent that no proper election can be carried out.
I set out below few examples of the adverse conditions that vitiate the holding of a free and fair election as envisaged in our law:-
1. THE FAILURE BY THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION TO ENSURE FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS
Your Commission has failed to discharge its mandate in the following respects;
1.1 Your Commission failed to declare a winner of the Presidential elections as provided for in the Third Schedule of the Electoral Act.
This point was well articulated by my lawyers in their letter of the 21st May 2008 and I associate myself with the submissions made in that letter in regards to this issue.
In my view, a Presidential run-off election should have been conducted after due
compliance by your Commission and in particular the Chief Election officer with this Section.
1.2 Your Commission has failed to stop and/or condemn continued utterances by senior Zanu PF officials including Mr Robert Mugabe to the effect that irrespective of the election result, Mr Robert Mugabe was not going to move out of his office.
The failure by your Commission to condemn such utterances right from the beginning clearly encouraged Zanu PF, war veterans aligned to Zanu PF, senior Zanu PF officials and Mr Robert Mugabe to make it their theme during their campaigns that a President does not come to power through the electoral process but rather through the barrel of the gun.
This theme which has become pervasive thoughout the Zanu PF campaigns makes people wonder whether we are in an election or in a war.
1.3 Your commission failed to abide by the provision of the Electoral Act when it failed to conduct the presidential run-off election within 21 days from the date of announcement of the presidential elections results conducted on the 29th March 2008
2. VIOLENCE
The violence currently obtaining in this country which has resulted in numerous deaths, destruction of homes, displacement of various people and injuries to people is something that is clearly in the public domain. As of today, the country has recorded at least 86 deaths, 10 000 homes destroyed , 200 000 people displaced and
10 000 people injured. The victims have been MDC supporters.
The violence has been clearly state sponsored and carried out in most cases by members of the Zimbabwe National Army and ZANU PF militia. It is true that in some
instances our supporters have fought back, inmost cases in self defence.
Because of our inability to access the rural areas, the above statistics may be
understated.
If this present scenario is compared to the period towards the 29 March harmonised election, it is evident that the conditions on the ground have fundamentally changed for the worse.
The above statistics clearly show that the electoral environment is not conducive to the holding of a free and fair election.
3. THREATS OF WAR
Throughout its campaigns, Zanu PF has threatened that there will be war if an MDC win in the presidential run-off is pronounced. Mr Mugabe made it quite clear recently that power cannot be taken by a pen but by a gun.
War veterans aligned to him have articulated this position throughout the country. These sentiments were echoed by senior Zanu PF officials including the President's wife when she clearly made the point that even if I was to win, I was never to set my foot at the State house.
Mr Mugabe also came out on National television encouraging his party members to conduct a war-like campaign. These kind of threats coming as they did from Senior Zanu PF officials including the President of Zanu PF should certainly be taken seriously.
Indeed, these threats were taken seriously by our population with the result that
a free and fair election is something that cannot be dreamt of under these conditions.
4. PARTICIPATION OF THE UNIFORMED FORCES IN ZANU PF CAMPAIGNS
It is common cause that the Zimbabwe National Army through its senior officers has actively campaigned for Zanu PF and continues to do so. This has been the position with the Zimbabwe Republic Police where senior officials have publicly campaigned for Zanu PF.
As if this was not enough, the senior officers of the uniformed forces have forced
junior officers to vote for President Mugabe. On the 18th June 2008, my lawyers wrote to you advising you of these developments and the fact that officers from the police, prisons and the army were forced to apply for postal ballots. These officers from the reports we have received have already voted in the presence of a senior officer and were forced to vote for Mr Robert Mugabe.
I attach herewith a copy of my lawyers letter dated 18th June 2008 which letter as usual was neither acknowledged nor responded to. In the circumstances, one cannot talk of a free and fair election which can be conducted on the 27th June 2008.
5. INTIMIDATION
The level of intimidation which is currently being subjected to our population particularly in the rural areas is alarming.
People are being forced to attend Zanu PF meetings during the night. People are being
told to record serial numbers on the ballot papers and disclose them to Zanu PF official who are responsible for carrying out the intimidation. These incidents have been brought to your attention but unfortunately nothing has been done by your Commission by way of assuring the voters that their votes are secret as was the case during the run up to the March harmonised elections.
Infact, the voter education campaign which was reasonably conducted during the run up to the March 2008 harmonised election has not been repeated. You have simply allowed Zanu PF, war veterans aligned to Zanu PF and Robert Mugabe to scare the
people by suggesting quite clearly that presidential run-off vote is between a choice of war and Robert Mugabe.
In my view, there can never be a free and fair election under these circumstances.
6. NON-ACCESS TO MEDIA
The law clearly provides that a political party is entitled to enjoy reasonable access to the media. My party booked space for its advertisements with Zimpapers newspapers namely Herald, Sunday Mail, Chronicle, Sunday News and the Manica Post which adverts were to commence on the 13th June 2008.
We were advised that our publications could not be published because of the shortage of newsprint. What surprised us was that Zanu PF's campaign advertisements are being
carried in these newspapers on a daily basis.
We also encountered problems with our electronic advertisements with the Zimbabwe
Broadcasting Holdings which effectively resulted in our failure to have access to media. This is in sharp contrast with what occurred during the run up to the March 2008 harmonised elections where we were given reasonable access to the media.
The importance of media advertisement in any election is quite critical and it is for this reason that media access was specifically provided for in our law. Without this right, there can be no free and fair elections.
7. THE BANNING OF MDC RALLIES AND MEETINGS AND DISRUPTION OF MDC MEETINGS
Since I launched my campaign for the presidential run-off elections, I have encountered numerous difficulties occasioned by agents of the State. I have been detained at police stations on numerous occasions and thereby denied time to campaign. Our meeting and rallies have been banned by the police. We have had to approach the High Court on no less than 3 occasions for the court to intervene to
enable us to go ahead with our rallies.
On the contrary, Zanu PF is being allowed to conduct its campaign rallies even during the night.
In the few cases that our rallies have been allowed to go ahead pursuant to these Court Orders, Zanu PF supporters have disrupted such rallies. On Sunday the 22nd June 2008, our star rally in Harare, in respect of which a High Court Order had to be applied for to proceed with such rally was disrupted by Zanu PF supporters. Clearly it is impossible for any political party to campaign let alone to exist without being allowed to have access to the voting population.
In these circumstances, it cannot therefore be said that the environment presently obtaining is conducive for the holding of a free and fair election.
DISENFRANCHISEMENT OF VOTERS AND LACK OF ACCESS TO RURAL AREAS
As you are aware voting in the Presidential election is constituency and ward based. In other words no person can vote outside his or her constituency and ward. The massive displacement of people already referred to herein (mainly from rural to urban areas) will result in the disenfranchisement of these people. The confirmed reports we have received confirm that there has been massive and systematic
confiscation of national identity documents of our supporters by ZANU PF militia and
people claiming to be war veterans.
Until our supporters are able to replace these identity documents (which cannot be done by Friday 27 June 2008) they are obviously not going to be able to vote.
Furthermore, more than two thousand of our polling agents throughout the country have been arrested and kept in custody on flimsy allegations. They will certainly be unable to vote.
We have trained replacement polling agents, but unfortunately we cannot possibly make arrangement for their deployment in rural areas as it is common cause that the rural areas have virtually been sealed off by ZANU PF militia, some members of the Zimbabwe National Army and people claiming to be war veterans. We will therefore be unable to deploy polling agents at more than 50% of the polling stations in rural areas. Certainly there can be no pretence of holding a free and fair election under these conditions.
From the foregoing and indeed due to several other reasons not necessarily covered in this letter, it is quite clear that no proper election can be held under the present conditions. The present conditions constitute a good example of conditions that vitiate the holding a free and fair election. My party and I have been giving
serious consideration to this whole issue for some time, during which time it was hoped that a semblance of a conducive environment may be created as has been the case with other elections where we have participated under protest.
The situation obtaining now is very different from what has been experienced in this country since independence. The violence, intimidation, death, destruction of property is just too much for anyone to dream of a free and fair election let alone expect our people to be able to freely and independently express to free themselves.
For this reason, my party and I have resolved that we cannot be part to this flawed
process. For the avoidance of any doubt the presidential election question remains
unresolved until such time a free and fair election is held. We accordingly urge you to abide by your mandate clearly spelt out in our constitution and in particular ensure that a proper environment conducive for the holding of an efficient, free, fair, and transparent election is held in the shortest period of time possible.
It is only in that kind of an election that my party and I will participate in.
By copy of this letter ZANU PF's candidate Mr Robert Mugabe, the Chief Election Officer and your Commissioners are advised accordingly.
Yours sincerely,
Morgan Tsvangirai
PRESIDENT, MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE.
Cc: Mr. R. G Mugabe (ZANU PF Headquarters)
Cc: ZEC Commissioners
Movement for Democratic Change Head Office
Harvest House
4 Nelson Mandela Avenue | Harare, Zimbabwe
Nelson Mandela, the former president of South Africa has finally broken his silence on the tragic events in Zimbabwe. Mandela says there has been a tragic failure of leadership in Zimbabwe in his first public comments about the crisis in Zimbabwe.
Despite Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change pulling out of the elections, Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF party still insists that elections on Friday will go on.
Nelson Mandela is in London for his 90th birthday celebrations. It's unfortunate that has to speak out about such sad developments in Zimbabwe when his is supposed to be enjoying this special ocassion in his life.
World leaders have criticised the planned presidential vote in Zimbabwe and have called for the elections to be postponed bacause of violence agaist MDC supporters.
The Queen has annulled Zimbabwe president Robert Mugabe's honorary knighthood. Mugabe was made a Knight Commander of the Oder of the Bath during his state visit to the UK in 1994.
"The brutality he has shown to his own people and the disaster he brought upon his own country made Robert Mugabe utterly unworthy of this honour," said William Hague of the Conservatives.
Even though symbolic and Robert Mugabe may 'laugh it of' it is important that the world show Mugabe their disgust at what he has done to Zimbabwe.
If Robert Mugabe declares himself winner of the 'Zimbabwe elections', this will plunge the country into even deeper political and economic problems. However despite the mounting international pressure against Robert Mugabe, events in Zimbabwe point to the likelihood of Mugabe declaring himself the winner of the so called 'presidential election in Zimbabwe'. After all he his party insists that the elections will go ahead on Friday.
Even though Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), has withdrawn from the elections because of violence and intimidation against his supporters Robert Mugabe is still campaigning and his supporters are unleashing even more violence on innocent Zimbabweans.
As pressure mounts on Robert Mugabe from within Zimbabwe, from our neighbouring countries and the international community, for him to stop the campaign of violence against innocent Zimbabweans Robert Mugabe does not seem to care or listen to anyone but himself.
If Robert Mugabe declares himself president on Friday, the whole world should take action against him and his illegitimate government. It's unfortunate that we may still have other countries prepared to trade with the Mugabe regime, as happened with the Chinese government supplying Robert Mugabe with weapons.
Our neighbouring South Africa has not helped the Zimbabwean situation either. Mbeki's quite diplomacy does not and has not worked. Thabo Mbeki should openly tell Robert Mugabe that he has failed the Zimbabwean people and the whole Southern Africa region.
But is Mugabe prepared to listen to Thabo Mbeki?
Sanctions for Robert Mugabe and his officials and their families can also be an option. These may not have worked in the past as Mugabe was able to travel to Europe, but tightening the loopholes will put pressure on Mugabe.
It should also be possible to track and freeze all the assets that Mugabe and his associates have in different parts of the world. Even sending their children in different countries back to Zimbabwe.
Robert Mugabe has declared war on the people of Zimbabwe because they support Morgan Tsvangirai who has since withdrawn from the elections. But since when did it became a crime to support a candidate of one's choice?
Mugabe also claims that only 'God' can remove him from power, not even the elections he is campaigning for.
Action is needed to avoid more deaths in Zimbabwe as Robert Mugabe does not seem to be prepared to listen or let the people of Zimbabwe decide their future.
Morgan Tsvangirai the leader of Zimbabwe's opposition MDC has sought refugee in the Dutch Embassy in Harare, and has been there since Sunday for security reasons. In other developments police in Harare have raided the headquarters of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and arrested 60 people.
A Dutch foreign ministry spokesman said Tsvangirai had spent Sunday night in the Dutch embassy but has not requested asylum.
Tsvangirai went to the embassy shortly after announcing that he was withdrawing from the presidential run-off set for Friday. Tsvangirai declared that a 'free and fair election had become impossible' as armed Zanu PF supporters continued their campaign of violence and intimidation.
Zanu PF supporters armed with sticks and iron bars attacked MDC supporters on Sunday at a rally venue in Harare in front of International observers.
Debate: What next for Zimbabwe? Have your say by posting your comments.
I was always of the opinion that Morgan Tsvangirai and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) should take part in the forthcoming Zimbabwe presidential elections, at least for those who have been raped, tortured and those killed during these elections. But given the current brutal violence and killings of opposition supporters by Zanu PF thugs, Tsvangirai is right to pulling out of this election.
Zanu PF wanted this brutal election so bad, and they were even prepared to kill to stay in office. How can there be FREE and fair elections under the conditions in Zimbabwe today?
Robert Mugabe has openly told his supporters that, he will not respect the outcome of the elections. He has always maintained that Morgan Tsvangirai and the MDC will never be allowed to rule the country. He has even said that only 'God' can remove him from power and he was prepared to go back to war to fight innocent Zimbabweans.
So WHY should Morgan Tsvangirai take part in such an election?
The opposition MDC says 86 of it's supporters have been killed by Zanu PF thugs and nearly 200 000 have been displaced. A lot more have been subject to brutal beatings and in front of international observers many were assaulted at a rally venue in Harare. Morgan Tsvangirai himself has been arrested on so many occasions in an effort to stop him from campaigning.
All the displaced people were not going to be able to vote, because they have to be in the constituencies were they are registered as voters to be able to vote.
How many people were going to come out and vote on June 27? Voting for Tsvangirai could have resulted in the death of even more innocent people. After Mugabe lost the first hugely disputed election a campaign of violence against innocent people started in Zimbabwe.
Zanu PF wanted this election so much, so they could get a bit of legitimacy though the stolen elections. Lets see what they are going to do now, now that they have been exposed by the MDC pulling out.
What do you think about these developments in Zimbabwe? What is the future now for Zimbabwe? What options do we have?
Have your say by posting your comments.
