Tsvangirai cries foul over voter harassment
June 27, 2008
By Our Correspondent
HARARE – The Movement for Democratic Change party cried foul as the country’s controversial single-candidate election got underway on Friday, saying its supporters were being harassed and force-marched to polling stations to vote for President Robert Mugabe.
Morgan Tsvangirai, the party’s leader and presidential candidate, withdrew from the poll at the last minute, citing widespread violence and intimidation of voters.
At least four people were injured in Harare South when anger erupted outside a polling station as a group of war veterans demanded the residential addresses of voters after noting the serial numbers on the ballot paper of each and every voter.
As polling got underway Tsvangirai urged his supporters to be vigilant.
“Whatever might happen, the results will not be recognised by the world,” Tsvangirai said in a statement. “No matter what you are forced to do, we know what is in your heart. Don’t risk your life. The people’s victory may be delayed but it won’t be denied.”
In Harare, a stronghold of Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), polling stations were empty mid-afternoon, seven hours after polling began and with five hours to go.
In Hatcliffe, many had arrived before dawn after being force-marched to the polls and patience was running thin.
Casting his vote at Mhofu Primary School in Highfields, Mugabe, who was accompanied by his wife and an unusually large contingent of security, said he was confident of victory, without any sense of the irony of the fact that he was the only candidate.
“I am very, very optimistic, upbeat and hungry,” he said jokingly.
A freelance journalist, Frank Chikowore, was arrested at the primary school as he tried to film Mugabe arriving to cast his vote.
At Matapi Flats in Mbare, hundreds were forced to the poling station by the Chipangano youth militia. Vendors in the Mupedzanhamo Flea Market, and the nearby vegetable wholesale market were only allowed to do business after displaying a dye-stained finger to the youth militia.
Eighteen of the 19 of Harare’s constituencies voted MDC in parliamentary elections on March 29. The capital’s 882,176 registered voters this year constitute 15 percent of the national electorate.
Meanwhile, Tsvangirai remained holed up in the Dutch embassy in Harare where he has sought refuge following concerns about his personal safety. He was expected to address a press briefing later today on the failed election.
There were no official figures on the voter turnout by Friday afternoon.
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After the sham “vote” / “election” what next for the Chipangano Youth Militia ? NO jobs ,NO food ,NO transport ,NO work ,leader REJECTED ALL OVER THE WORLD !
What next Chipangano? To hell with Thabo Mbeki, life and soul to the devil, and with Mugabe and his wife Grace, with Zanu-PF, Emmerson Mnangagwa, Gono, Chiwenga, Shiri, Chihuri and the entire JOC, (Joint Operation Command). To hell with Chiweshe, and all he stands for with his bloody so called elections……The curse of Mbuya Nehanda must be on all involved with Zanu-PF and on their children.
I curse the MUGABE LINEAGE for all that Mugabe has done by murdering, raping and infecting innocent women with the HIV VIRUS through his youth militia as you have NO war veterans supporting you to beat old and young innocent women , men and children …..all in the name of power!
If Tsvangirai EVER negotiates with a monster like Mugabe and Makoni and his GNU…to hell with him too.
To all who recognise these sham elections..may your soul NEVER have peace!
What is wrong with these young men, the so called chipangano, You let an old man like Mugabe tell you to go kill your mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters for what, he is just an old grumpie man, his days are numbered. It’s a shame to let an old man destroy your future, so what’s next, now you are all going back home where there is no food, no money, no jobs. Mugabe does not have a plan for the economy, all he does is talk about the west, the west this, the west that. What’s your plan Robert? You talk about going to the AU summit who are you representing there.