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Zim civil society calls for dialogue

Zim civil society calls for dialogue
By George Chellah in Harare, Zimbabwe
Sunday June 29, 2008 [04:00]

THE civil society in Zimbabwe has called for dialogue among political players saying the presidential runoff will not resolve the political impasse in the country. And the civil society noted that Friday's presidential runoff was marred by low voter turnout and heavy police presence especially in the opposition MDC strongholds.

Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), a network of 38 organisations, yesterday stated that it noted the withdrawal of MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai from the election prior to polling day with much concern.

ZESN stated that the opposition leader's withdrawal would have an impact on the credibility and legitimacy of the election outcome. They further stated that the elections were marred with intimidation by the ruling party.

"Considering the low voter turnout, the forcing of voters to go and cast their vote, alarming levels of political violence, evident participation of traditional leaders and known ZANU-PF activists in the voting process, voter intimidation through requests for ballot serial numbers, among a host of electoral flaws," ZESN stated.

"It is ZESN's considered view that the outcome of this election in such a climate of fear and coercion will not reflect expression of the will of Zimbabweans and that the runoff will not solve the current political crisis. ZESN urges political players to engage in constructive dialogue to resolve the prevailing political stalemate."
ZESN noted that the runoff had been marred by low voter turnout and heavy police presence, especially in the opposition strongholds.

"The environment on polling day has been tense following a sustained and violent intimidation campaign against the electorate since the announcement of the March 29 presidential election results. On the eve of the election, there were reports of suspected ZANU-PF supporters confiscating people's national IDs identity cards in Mabvuku, Harare," ZESN stated. "In most rural areas and some high density urban areas like Mbare and Sunningdale, queues were observed amidst reports that people were being forced to go and vote. In Masvingo North, at Matova, St Stanislaus and Mahoto polling stations observers reported that youth militia and traditional leaders were writing down names of all those who were going to the polls as they entered the polling stations.

"And were again asking voters to provide the traditional leaders with serial numbers of their ballot papers as they left after casting their vote. The same pattern was also noted in Esigodini, Chitungwiza, Zengeza and Mufakose where voters were being asked to provide suspected members of ZANU-PF with their serial numbers after voting."
They stated that in Zengeza area, a known ZANU-PF losing candidate in the last elections addressed voters at her house before they cast their votes ordering them to record serial numbers of their ballots and surrender them to her.

"In Mazowe Central at Howard polling station, suspected ZANU-PF members were recording the names of voters in a register. This was taking place from a distance of about 300m from the polling station," ZESN stated. "ZESN also notes alarming reports from Shamva, Chikomba and Marondera that many people, including known literates like teachers were reportedly being assisted to vote. Chikomba Central and Masvingo North Constituencies were some of the areas where ZESN received such reports at the time of this statement."
ZESN stated that in most rural areas, observers reported that traditional leaders forced voters to go and vote.

"There is systematic gathering and forcing of people to the polls particularly in Mashonaland Central in Guruve North Constituency and Mashonaland West in Hurungwe East at Matende Primary School. Suspected ZANU-PF supporters were reportedly moving from house to house calling on all registered voters to go and vote for ZANU PF," ZESN stated. "In Chikomba West Constituency in Mashonaland East, people were being ferried by lorries to go and vote. ZESN also received reports of known ZANU-PF activists serving as polling officials.

"ZESN notes with great distress reports that in some areas, voters are being asked to attend all night vigils tonight Friday at bases dotted across the country to take an audit of who voted and who did not."

Meanwhile, the results of the runoff election in which President Robert Mugabe was the only candidate were yet to be announced by Zimbabwe electoral Commission (ZEC) by press time yesterday.
The results were, however, expected to be announced later on Saturday.

Labels: COLOUR REVOLUTIONS, NGOs, ZESN, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 3:49 AM