Zim citizens describe polls as last hope for the nation

Zim citizens describe polls as last hope for the nation
By Jack Zimba
Saturday March 29, 2008 [03:00]

SOME Zimbabwean citizens returning home to participate in today’s elections have described the polls as the last hope for change in the economically-hit southern African country. In an interview at the Intercity Bus Terminus in Lusaka on Thursday, a Zimbabwean resident Joe Chihota said: “These elections provide the last window of hope for the people of Zimbabwe to change this government which has been in power since 1980.”

But Chihota, who is an MDC supporter, expressed doubt about the opposition winning the elections, saying they were too weak to unseat the Mugabe government.
Others, however, were optimistic about the opposition’s chances.

“The old man has got to go. Morgan Tsvangirai is winning. The present government has failed to deliver and the people are saying ‘enough is enough’,” said a registered voter, who declined to give his identity.

Chihota, who is a vegetable trader in Harare, also expressed fear of a further down-turn in the country’s economy if President Robert Mugabe, who is going for his sixth term in office, won.

“If Mugabe wins, it will mean that the sanctions on the country will continue, but if the opposition win, then maybe the white farmers will come back and contribute to our economy again,” said Chihota.

Zimbabwe is under economic and travel sanctions imposed by the United States. It is currently battling with a run-away inflation soaring above 100,000 per cent.
At the Intercity Bus Terminus, K15,000 buys Zim $100 million.
And a pastor, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he feared the country might be thrown into violence if the opposition won.

The Harare-based pastor urged Zambians to pray for peace in his country.
“The issue of violence after the elections cannot be ignored. We fear that what happened in Kenya might happen to us in Zimbabwe,” the pastor said.
The 84-year-old Mugabe is facing two main challengers, Tsvangirai and former finance minister Simba Makoni, in today’s elections, with over five million registered voters.