Harare-Zimbabwe-As the post March 29 Zimbabwe harmonised election circus continues, reports of a plan by Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF to intimidate the rural electorate in the run up to a presidential run-off have been revealed. A top source in the armed forces, who cannot be named for obvious reasons, made revelations that top army officials and war veterans met in the capital city, Harare, this Monday, at Cranborne, to "map the way forward" in preparation for a presidential re-run.
According to the source, the plan include deploying high ranking officials in the armed forces and war veterans to the country's 10 provinces, particularly in the rural areas for a "re-orientation" programme in the run up to the presidential run-off. The re-orientation include instilling fear and in cases beating the electorate. It is believed that indications in the parliamentarian and senatorial results show Zanu PF losing grip in the rural areas, once considered Zanu PF's stronghold. About three quarters of the population live in the rural areas. The source said money for the scheme has already been "dished" out together with vehicles sourced through the central bank, The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ). The source also revealed that RBZ printed money for the "project".
In a bid to intimidate voters, police in riot gear and soldiers have been deployed in the streets in anticipation of revolts over the delay in releasing the presidential results. "The situation appears to be normal but I tell you, the atmosphere is really tense. Business is at a standstill and nothing is going to be smooth until these results are made public," said one Harare retailer who requested anonymity.
Robert Mugabe's Zanu PF is requesting for a re-count of all election material citing "tampering of election results" by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), allegedly in favour of the opposition MDC. Some ZEC officials have been arrested. Surprisingly ZEC officials are appointed by the government. Morgan Tsvangirai of the MDC filed a petition with the High court last Sunday to have the results announced. The presiding judge in the case said he will make the ruling on Monday.
Zanu PF has been accusing MDC of "claiming victory" when the results have not been announced "officially." What is surprising however is that last Friday, after a Zanu PF politburo meeting, Zanu PF Secretary for Administration, Mr Didmus Mtasa, told journalists from the state media that "because of the stalemate in the presidential election, we have resolved to go for a run-off. The decision for the run-off was in the affirmative by all members. Comrade Mugabe, our dear old man remains our candidate. We shall take him and carry him along with us." People are surprised that Zanu PF is already talking of re-counting and a re-run of the presidential poll when no official results have been announced.
The re-run according to provisions of the Electoral Act is supposed to be held within 21 days of the day of election, in case no presidential candidate gets the 50% plus majority needed to be declared winner. It is however believed that opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, garnered 50,3%, a result dismissed by Zanu PF as "not official".
Only the parliamentarian and senatorial election results have been announced so far. Of the 207 out of 210 House of Assembly constituencies contested MDC (Tsvangirai) got the majority seats, with 99 seats, Zanu PF 97, MDC (Mutambara) 10 and 1 seat went to an independent candidate. . The other 3 seats will be decided in a by-election and were called off after 3 MDC candidates passed away just before the plebiscite. It is believed two of these seats are likely to go to Tsvangirai. In the final senatorial election result released on Saturday 5 April, of the 60 contested seats, Zanu PF got 30, MDC Tsvangirai 24 and the other MDC faction 6.
Zanu PF has been accusing MDC of "claiming victory" when the results have not been announced "officially." What is surprising however is that last Friday after a Zanu PF politburo meeting, Zanu PF Secretary for Adminstration, Mr Didmus Mtasa, told journalits from the state media that "because of the stalemate in the presidential election, we have resolved to go for a run-off. The decision for the run-off was in the affirmative by all members. Comrade Mugabe, our dear old man remains our candidate. We shall take him and carry him along with us."
Nobody seems to be sure of what will transpire in Zimbabwe. Tsvangirai has called for the United Nations to intervene. The Southern African Development Community (SADC) mediator between Zanu PF and MDC, South Africa's president, Thabo Mbeki, recently told the House of Commons in Britain that the situation in Zimbabwe "is still manageable" and to "wait for the presidential outcome."
