Zimbabwe Presidium after being sworn in during 2004. The ruling ZANU-PF party contested national elections on March 29, 2008.
Originally uploaded by Pan-African News Wire File Photos
Herald Reporter
RESULTS from Saturday’s 2008 harmonised elections started trickling in yesterday morning and by last night the main contestants — Zanu-PF and the MDC Tsvangirai faction — were in a neck-and-neck contest in the House of Assembly official results announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.
By 10pm last night, the ruling party had won 31 seats, the Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC faction 30 seats and the Arthur Mutambara-led MDC faction six seats out of the 67 House of Assembly seats announced.
The results were mostly from Matabeleland South, parts of Masvingo, Bulawayo, Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland East, West and Central.
There were no results yet from the Presidential and Senate elections.
ZEC deputy chief elections officer Mr Utoile Silaigwana said more results would continue to be released late last night and today, after the usual verification process.
He said results that had been pasted outside polling stations were official though the electoral body was still in the process of verifying them by late last night. He said results for the Presidential race would be announced later, as ZEC was in the process of collating them.
"Results of councillors, House of Assembly representatives and Senators were announced at respective wards and these are now known, but we are still in the process of collating the Presidential ballot," Mr Silaigwana said in a telephone interview.
He advised that voting results were pasted on polling stations for the benefit of the electorate.
Supporters of contesting political parties are eagerly awaiting the outcome of the polls but ZEC chairman Justice George Chiweshe warned earlier on that the results had to be authenticated by a strict verification process to avoid mistakes.
He said unlike the last election where voters were selecting House of Assembly candidates, this time the electorate would have to bear with the time that would be taken as the polls involved four categories, hence the term harmonised.
March 29 polls democratic, fair — observer teams
Herald Reporter
THE African, Caribbean and Pacific and Zimbabwe Lawyers for Justice observer groups have separately described Saturday’s elections as democratic, fair and transparent while the Pan African Parliament team said conditions for free and fair elections were reflected in the polls.
The three observer groups also said the pre-election and voting periods as having been peaceful and conducive for free and fair elections.
In a statement in Harare yesterday at the end of its mission, the ACP group said voting procedures were followed to the letter and polling was done in an orderly manner.
"At all the polling stations visited, the ACP mission observed that polling material and facilities were in order and that the procedures were correctly followed in terms of the closure, sealing and layout of the ballot boxes, guiding of voters, stamping of ballot papers, secrecy of the ballot, etc.
"In all cases, agents of at least two of the contesting parties were present. The voting operations were conducted in an orderly manner at all eight polling stations where voting was observed," the ACP said.
It said in a few cases, voters could not cast their votes because their names were not on the voters’ roll of the particular polling station or because they did not have the proper identification documents.
"However, this only occurred in very few cases. The ACP observer mission observed no malpractice or irregularity at any of the stations visited.
"The ACP Election Observer Mission was particularly impressed by the calm and peaceful atmosphere that prevailed before, during and immediately after polling day. From what it observed, the mission views the conduct of the voting process as orderly, transparent, democratic and fair."
The ACP group was one of several observer missions that watched over Saturday’s polls and was mainly concerned with observing voting, counting of votes and attendant reconciliation of votes cast and unused ballots.
It visited four provinces and followed the voting process at various polling stations in different constituencies. In particular, it attended the opening and closing of the poll as well as the counting of ballots in one polling station in Mbare constituency.
"The mission also visited several polling stations in Harare and in rural areas with a view to assessing the state of technical preparedness of the polling centres a few hours ahead of the opening of polling stations."
Like all the other observer groups, the ACP had noted that the pre-election period was conducive for free and fair elections.
In its interim statement released yesterday, the Pan African Parliament team said campaigning took place in an environment of peace, order and high levels of tolerance while voting was conducted in a transparent and efficient manner.
The PAP mission said it was impressed by the legal provisions aimed at ensuring the independence, impartiality and transparency of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.
"It is the mission’s view that the irregularities that were detected were not so major as to compromise the flow of the electoral process.
"On the overall, the basic conditions of credible, free and fair elections as contained in the OAU/African Union Declaration on the Principles of Governing Democratic Elections in Africa of 2002 were reflected in the Zimbabwe Harmonised Elections, thus far," the PAP said, adding that the elections took place against positive constitutional and legislative reforms.
It also hailed police for their professional conduct saying they displayed a "high degree of professionalism on the voting day inside and outside the polling stations."
The PAP mission said certain allegations made by some stakeholders were proved to be unfounded and baseless.
However, it said it was concerned by delays in announcing results but had been assured by ZEC that they would be in announced as they came in.
Head of the mission Mr Marwick Khumalo said the results that ZEC had announced so far were accurate because none of the contesting parties — which he understood were collating their own results — had disputed them.
The Sadc observer group has also declared the polls as having been peaceful and a credible expression of the will of the people.
In a preliminary statement on Sunday, the Sadc group said vote counting at the polling stations was conducted "meticulously and lawfully".
The observers are expected to produce their reports on the elections soon.
ZLJ — a wholly Zimbabwean social justice and human rights activists’ organisation — was accredited to observe the harmonised elections.
ZLJ national co-ordinator Advocate Martin Dinha issued a statement commending the tranquil environment that prevailed before and during voting.
"The pre-election period was tranquil, peaceful and campaigning was conducted in accordance with Sadc principles and guidelines (on elections). Generally there were no major cases of violence, not a single election-related death or serious criminal case or conduct," he said.
Adv Dinha said players in the election enjoyed equal and clear reportage and access to both print and electronic media.
"In terms of democratic development, this election saw Zimbabwe rising higher in its democratic record, probably unparalleled in sub-Saharan Africa," said Adv Dinha.
He commended the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission for comprehensive voter education and managing the whole voting process with diligence.
However, he said some voters disadvantaged themselves as they produced wrong identification papers such as driver’s licences and birth certificates.
Adv Dinha said voters were accorded an opportunity to vote without fear, intimidation and influence.
He said the environment prevailing after the elections was cause for concern as there were cases of conduct and utterances that were likely to breach the peace, citing the MDC Press conference claiming victory.
The report also cited the Chitungwiza incident in which supporters of rival MDC factions fought each other as one of the regrettable cases of post-election violence.
Ndlovu applauds Zimbabweans for peace during polls
Bulawayo Bureau
THE Minister of Information and Publicity, Dr Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, yesterday applauded the people of Zimbabwe for the peace and tranquillity they showed during and after the voting in Saturday’s harmonised elections.
In an interview in Bulawayo, Dr Ndlovu said Zimbabweans had shamed Western countries that were trying to fuel violence in the country.
"Firstly, I really want to thank the nation for campaigning and voting peacefully, contrary to the whims of the foreign Press, the two factions of MDC and supporters of Makoni.
"Those have been trying to cause alarm and despondency among the people. The Western Press are prophets of doom whose countries thrive on crisis and imperialist mischief had predicted violence," said Dr Ndlovu.
He said the people of Zimbabwe did not have a culture of violence, unless it has been imported into the country.
"These people are predicting that during the announcement of results there would be chaos. They are saying the delay in announcing the results gives room to rigging, which is not true," he said.
Dr Ndlovu commended the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission for fulfilling its constitutional duties professionally as evidenced by the way it was verifying the results and giving out the correct version to the people.
"The process has been professional and ZEC should be left alone to do their job without any interference. They are doing a mammoth task in verifying the results, considering the number of voters and candidates who were being voted for.
"The announcement and verification is watertight," he said.
Dr Ndlovu dismissed claims of rigging and said those fuelling these lies were afraid of defeat.
"Where is rigging when at polling stations all parties are represented and sign that everything went on smoothly?
"Those ballot boxes would also be taken to the National Command Centre where every party is represented," he said.
On the alleged delay by ZEC in announcing the results, Dr Ndlovu said there was no delay since the electoral body was not given a deadline on when they should finish announcing the results.
"Those who want to interfere with ZEC are finding an excuse that the elections were not free and fair. These are alarmists who are afraid of losing. When they lose they cry foul but when they win they don’t denounce the process, why?" he said.
Dr Ndlovu said political parties should be mature and lose with dignity and also win with magnanimity.
"Any form of violence should not be tolerated. Our law enforcement agents are ready to quell any sponsored or non-sponsored violence.
"No Kenya style of violence will happen in the country like what was predicted by the MDC," he said.
Let’s accept final results, move forward
ZIMBABWE’S elections have passed the first test, a clear endorsement of the whole process by the regional, continental and international observer teams.
The most critical team was that sent by Sadc under treaties to which Zimbabwe has subscribed. All elections in Sadc countries now have to be meticulously observed by an observer team from the region. A clean bill of health has to be obtained.
We doubt that any Sadc country could sustain the results of a dubious election against a formal finding by the regional bloc that it was fatally flawed.
So far, no one in Sadc has had such an election, but the energetic action by the similar West African grouping a couple of years ago when it forced Togo to run a proper poll shows what can be done.
So the announcement by the Sadc team that Zimbabwe’s polls were a credible and peaceful expression of the people’s will was most welcome.
The Sadc team, and with 163 members it was an effective team as well as the largest observer mission, not only looked at the preparations but was able to visit a large number of polling stations on the day of voting.
It was also able to monitor counting at many stations and check the whole counting process.
It gave the whole election a clean bill of health and commended the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.
It felt that in the highly polarised political atmosphere of Zimbabwe, and the sort of rumours that tend to fly around, that a more effective system was needed to deal with complaints and rumours. We agree.
Generating and spreading rumours is almost the national sport of Zimbabwe and the long process of verifying and announcing the count is not helping.
This is one area where Zimbabwe will need to do better next time, especially if, as is probably the case in this election, the results could be very close.
We appreciate that when every seat and every vote counts, ZEC has to be meticulous in ensuring that the final official results are perfect, and not open to endless dispute once issued. But it is also apparent that ZEC might need more resources and access to better communications in this final stage.
Chairman of the Sadc mission, Mr Jose Marcos Barrica of Angola, made a special plea for a continuation of the generally peaceful atmosphere.
With the exception of a house, belonging to a Zanu-PF candidate in Bulawayo, that was bombed on the eve of the poll and a tussle between supporters of the two main opposition parties in Chitungwiza when a result was announced, the polling process and its aftermath have been remarkably free of violence.
We need to keep it that way.
The ZEC has explained that the main reason for the long process in announcing results is the desire to ensure that these are perfect when given out.
Regional observers, and the neighbours have the best reasons of anyone to want credible elections in every Sadc country, have made it clear that the result will reflect the wishes of the people of Zimbabwe as a whole.
We all need the humility to accept the final results and then combine to take the country forward. We have shown we can organise a credible and complicated election.
This was not just the ZEC.
Thousands of party and candidate agents, the candidates themselves, and the incredible organisation that most major parties had to show, was a credit to all.
Now we need to turn to other areas and work together in the same spirit on our real problems.
Tsvangirai will never rule Zim
EDITOR — I wish to remind fellow Zimbabweans that the liberation struggle was not a one-day wonder.
It took many years and many lives were lost before we at last got our independence.
What had to follow was to ensure that the majority black people are economically empowered.
Land, a major reason for taking up arms to fight for liberation, had to be given back to its rightful owners — the black majority.
And when the Government embarked on the agrarian reform there were rigorous attempts to resist the programme, and then the MDC was born. The imperialists were furious and are still furious.
President Mugabe became the talk of the world and has been condemned for merely doing what is best for his people.
Tsvangirai globetrotted asking for sanctions and persuading the whole world to stop aid to Zimbabwe.
The economy was sabotaged, we have hit hard times, people are struggling to make ends meet, decent meals have disappeared from our tables and the future looks very uncertain.
Morgan Tsvangirai has been on cloud nine dreaming that the hardships will propel the electorate to turn to him as the Messiah.
We are not fools.
It pains us to hear Tsvangirai’s claims of having pioneered the land reform, when we know for certain that he was sponsored to reverse the programme.
We have also not forgotten a letter to Cde Kumbirai Kangai, the then Minister of Agriculture and Lands.
The letter came from Tsvangirai’s masters in 1997 — written by Clare Short — then foreign affairs minister in Blair’s government.
Short wrote in her letter that there was no way Britain was going to fund the redistribution of land, and she even went further to claim herself to be of Irish origin.
Finally to Tsvangirai, I say to you, you will never ever rule Zimbabwe.
Hamadziripi Bvopfo.
Norton.
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