Reports from Zimbabwe indicate the President Robert Mugabe, who was defeated in the latest election, is taking steps to steal the victory from Morgan Tsvangirai and the Movement for Democratic Change. The dictator's party, Zanu-PF, is demanding recounts in 23 constituencies. Sources within the secret police say the recounts will be used as an opportunity to stuff ballot boxes and thereby insure Mugabe will win the recounts. Tsvangirai has refused to participate in any runoff election claiming outright victory in the first poll, and because a runoff will simply allow another opportunity for Zanu-PF to manipulate the vote. Some officials of the Zimbabwe Election Commission have been detained by police, and the offices of the Commission in Harare have moved to an unknown location. Official results are still not available more than two weeks after the election.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Zimbabwe Fights Back II
Update: Showing that they will stop a nothing to stay in power, Mugabe's ZANU-PF party members have killed at least two members of the opposition MDC and burned homes in Mugabe's stronghold around the capitol, Harare. Two hundred officers picked for their loyalty to the President have been dispatched around the country to take control of police, militias and paramilitary organizations. Moran Tsvangirai has called for a general strike, but previous attempts at mass action have not met with success. The supposedly independent Election Commission is pressing ahead with plans for a partial recount.
Reports from Zimbabwe indicate the President Robert Mugabe, who was defeated in the latest election, is taking steps to steal the victory from Morgan Tsvangirai and the Movement for Democratic Change. The dictator's party, Zanu-PF, is demanding recounts in 23 constituencies. Sources within the secret police say the recounts will be used as an opportunity to stuff ballot boxes and thereby insure Mugabe will win the recounts. Tsvangirai has refused to participate in any runoff election claiming outright victory in the first poll, and because a runoff will simply allow another opportunity for Zanu-PF to manipulate the vote. Some officials of the Zimbabwe Election Commission have been detained by police, and the offices of the Commission in Harare have moved to an unknown location. Official results are still not available more than two weeks after the election.
Reports from Zimbabwe indicate the President Robert Mugabe, who was defeated in the latest election, is taking steps to steal the victory from Morgan Tsvangirai and the Movement for Democratic Change. The dictator's party, Zanu-PF, is demanding recounts in 23 constituencies. Sources within the secret police say the recounts will be used as an opportunity to stuff ballot boxes and thereby insure Mugabe will win the recounts. Tsvangirai has refused to participate in any runoff election claiming outright victory in the first poll, and because a runoff will simply allow another opportunity for Zanu-PF to manipulate the vote. Some officials of the Zimbabwe Election Commission have been detained by police, and the offices of the Commission in Harare have moved to an unknown location. Official results are still not available more than two weeks after the election.