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Opposition claims victory amid election chaos
by Pat Ashworth
 Newspaper reports that the results were out were patchy and premature AP |  Waiting game: Zimbabwean refugees at the Central Methodist Church in Johannesburg watch television on Sunday as they await the outcome of Saturday’s elections.AP |
| INTERNATIONAL development charities this week criticised the slow release of election results in Zimbabwe.
On Wednesday, the official opposition party, the MDC, claimed victory. Its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, had won 50.3 per cent of the vote, against Robert Mugabe’s 43.8 per cent, it said. President Mugabe’s party, ZANU-PF, disputed the figures, but this failed to silence mounting rumours that the President was looking for an exit strategy.
If neither leader wins 50 per cent of the vote, there will have to be a rerun, which Mr Mugabe is widely expected to lose. But the absence of an official figure from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has fuelled fears of widespread ballot-rigging.
Tearfund, Progressio, Trócaire, and the Foundation for Development and Partnership in Africa (FDPA) all have partners in Zimbabwe. They warned that the failure to explain the delays to the general public was contributing to tension, and could lead to instability in the country.
One mutual partner, Pastor Promise of the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance (ZCA), said: “SADC [Southern African Development Community] principles and guidelines governing democratic elections stipulate that counting of votes shall be done at the polling stations. This was done and completed, yet ZEC is withholding the results which are already public knowledge as they were posted outside each polling station.”
The agencies expressed specific concerns that, in some cases, officially announced votes did not appear to be tallying with those registered and displayed at polling stations.
The agencies urged: “African Union and national leaders should be prepared to lead a process of mediation in the event of a disputed outcome. The UK, Ireland, EU and member states should encourage African leaders to insist that the SADC principles are rigorously followed, in particular on ensuring that the results announced reflect the will of the people.” Security forces in Zimbabwe were also urged to respect the verdict of the people.
The ZCA coalition, which has persistently called for good and accountable governance by all leadership, regardless of their political allegiance, worked hard in the run up to the election to build voter confidence. It cut across the language divide by issuing information on voting rights and secret balloting in four languages: Shona, Ndebele, Tonga, and Venda.
“We are empowering the people, the congregations and the communities to vote without fear,” said Useni Sibanda, ZCA’s national co-ordinator. Church volunteers monitored voting at 900 ballot locations, in remote rural areas and elsewhere, in a culture of rumour and intimidation, and the obstruction of voter registration.
“It doesn’t surprise us that it’s the Churches stepping up to ensure a voice for the oppressed and marginalised,” said Peter Grant, international director of Tearfund. “Tearfund honours their conviction and courage, and that’s why we stand with them in support.”
The voting process was reported to have been largely peaceful, efficient, and streamlined. Many polling stations were deserted hours before the close of the election. A retired Anglican cleric reported from Bulawayo on Saturday: “Have just come in from voting in a quiet suburb — beautiful morning, so we sat and had tea and hot-cross buns and chatted to our neighbours many of whom we know. Took in all about two hours at a rate of three a minute. All orderly and peaceful. Of course, rumours of rigging in the rural areas. No excitement in this part of town, very dull!”
The Roman Catholic Church in South Africa is meanwhile preparing itself for a possible refugee crisis in the event of post-election violence in Zimbabwe. A church delegation is reported to have visited the north of Limpopo Province, on the border with Zimbabwe, last week to inspect facilities that could be used as reception centres in the event of an influx. The Catholic Healthcare Association had been asked to try to find medical personnel who could be released for three to five days in an emergency.
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