Xaaji Xunjuf Posted August 2, 2013 Mugabe's party claims Zimbabwe election win, Tsvangirai’s party cries fraud HARARE, Zimbabwe — Reuters Published Thursday, Aug. 01 2013, 2:46 AM EDT Last updated Thursday, Aug. 01 2013, 5:51 AM EDT Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe’s party claimed a landslide election victory on Thursday that would secure another five years in power for Africa’s oldest head of state, but its main rival said the vote was invalidated by “monumental fraud”. Wednesday’s voting was peaceful across the southern African nation, but the conflicting claims heralded an acrimonious dispute over the outcome that increases the chances of a repeat of the violence that followed a contested vote in 2008. More Related to this Story Zimbabweans line up to cast votes in ‘free and fair’ election Zimbabwe voters stand in long lines as crucial election begins Fighting for a fair election in Zimbabwe Video Video: Zimbabwe votes in close-fought election Releasing unofficial results early in Zimbabwe is illegal, and police have said they will arrest anybody who makes premature claims. Election authorities are due to announce the official outcome by Aug. 5. But a senior source in 89-year-old Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party, who asked not to be named, said the result was already clear. “We’ve taken this election. We’ve buried the MDC. We never had any doubt that we were going to win,” the source told Reuters by phone. Responding to the claim, a high-ranking source in Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party described the election as “a monumental fraud”. “Zimbabweans have been taken for a ride by ZANU-PF and Mugabe. We do not accept it,” the source, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters. The MDC was to hold an emergency meeting later on Thursday. As riot police took up position outside the MDC headquarters in central Harare, an independent election monitor, who also could not be named for fear of arrest, said early results were looking like a “disaster” for Tsvangirai. Western observers were barred, but the head of an African Union monitoring mission said on Wednesday the polls had initially appeared “peaceful, orderly and free and fair” - an assessment at odds with the view of the MDC and independent agencies. The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN), the leading domestic monitoring body, said the credibility of the vote was seriously compromised by large numbers of people being turned away from polling stations in MDC strongholds. It also cast doubt on the authenticity of the voters’ roll, noting that 99.97 percent of voters in the countryside - Mugabe’s main source of support - were registered, against just 67.9 percent in the mostly pro-Tsvangirai urban areas. In all, 6.4 million people, nearly half the population, had been registered to vote. “It is not sufficient for elections to be peaceful for elections to be credible,” ZESN chairman Solomon Zwana told a news conference. “They must offer all citizens... an equal opportunity to vote.” QUESTION OVER SANCTIONS Several political sources told Reuters that top MDC members had lost their parliamentary seats, including some in the capital, Tsvangirai’s main support base since he burst onto the political scene in the former British colony 15 years ago. Party insiders spoke of their shock at the result. If confirmed, Mugabe’s victory is likely to mean five more years of troubled relations with the West, where the former liberation fighter is regarded as a ruthless despot responsible for serious human rights abuses and wrecking the economy. More than a week before the election, the United States, which has sanctions in place against Mugabe, expressed concerns about the credibility of the vote, citing persistent pro-ZANU-PF bias in the state media and partisan security forces. The view from Brussels, London and Washington is key to the future of Zimbabwe’s economy, which is still struggling with the aftermath of a decade-long slump and hyperinflation that ended in 2009 when the worthless Zimbabwe dollar was scrapped. An easing of sanctions against Mugabe and his inner circle would allow Harare to normalise its relations with the IMF and World Bank and access the huge investment needed to rebuild its dilapidated economy. It would also spark a rush to exploit rich reserves of minerals such as chrome, coal, platinum and gold. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Xaaji Xunjuf Posted August 2, 2013 Mashallah this is great news for the people of Zimbawe and ofcourse for the rest of Africa. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gar_maqaate Posted August 2, 2013 To paraphrase Desmond Tutu, the man is the archetypal caricature of an African dictator. This man should be in a nursing home not in a presidential place. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Xaaji Xunjuf Posted August 2, 2013 Wisdom comes with age Robert Mugabe is the best thing that ever happened to Zimbabwe , Desmond tuti muxu ogyahay kniisadisa ha iskaga jiro. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gar_maqaate Posted August 2, 2013 Robert Mugabe turned Zimbabwe from a net food exporter to net food importer. He has the dubious record of achieving the highest hyperinflation in recorded history. His bank was printing billion dollar notes for heaven sake. The man is a clown and he is taking Zimbabwe to his grave, literally. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maaddeey Posted August 2, 2013 Xaaji, why are you fascinated with dictators?. Godane to Barre to Mugabe?. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Che -Guevara Posted August 2, 2013 lol@Maddeey, when did Godane become dictator, I thought he was the Amir. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gar_maqaate Posted August 2, 2013 Che -Guevara;971733 wrote: Whenever, I am reminded of an African dictator, I always remember this old South African advert. Lol https://http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=d1rwH0HQF-I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen> Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Xaaji Xunjuf Posted August 2, 2013 Gar_maqaate;971729 wrote: Robert Mugabe turned Zimbabwe from a net food exporter to net food importer. He has the dubious record of achieving the highest hyperinflation in recorded history. His bank was printing billion dollar notes for heaven sake. The man is a clown and he is taking Zimbabwe to his grave, literally. Western sanctions particularly the EU caused that not the Zimbabwen goverment of Robert Mugabe Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Xaaji Xunjuf Posted August 2, 2013 Maaddeey;971731 wrote: Xaaji, why are you fascinated with dictators?. Godane to Barre to Mugabe?. There are good dictators and bad dictators although Halyey Mugabe is not a dictator the man holds elections one man one vote Amir godane is not a dictator , i never liked Siad bare well maybe only the first 10 years i clapped my Hands for the late general but the last 10 years he disappointed me. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Maaddeey Posted August 2, 2013 Che, Godane was always a dictator, 'Amiir'nimadu ma 'dictator'nimadey ka soo horjeeddaa?. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gar_maqaate Posted August 2, 2013 Xaaji Xunjuf;971736 wrote: Western sanctions particularly the EU caused that not the Zimbabwen goverment of Robert Mugabe The western sanctions were attacked at senior Goverment figures and limited number of companies associated with those individuals. Robert Mugabe and his cronies were responsible for single handily destroying the Zimbabwean economy. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites