Harare – Zimbabwe’s main opposition party, claiming there are large inconsistencies in the results of the parliamentary poll won by President Robert Mugabe’s party, has demanded fresh elections under a new constitution.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said on Sunday it had won 94 seats, rather than the 41 announced by the electoral commission. Its statement did not specify how it had reached this figure and officials did not elaborate.

According to official results, Mugabe’s Zanu-PF claimed 78 seats and one went to an independent candidate in Thursday’s elections.

Under Zimbabwean law, Mugabe appoints 30 more seats in the 150-member parliament, giving his party a majority of more than two thirds.

Not all Zimbabweans were allowed to vote
The opposition and independent rights groups have said that because there have been years of violence, intimidation and repressive laws, the elections were slanted in Mugabe’s favour even before the first ballot was cast.

“As long as we run elections under the same set of conditions, there is no way that elections will be free and fair,” MDC spokesperson William Bango said.

He was supported in this by South Africa’s DA and the Freedom Front Plus, but the PAC congratulated Zanu-PF for being Zimbabweans’ “party of choice”.

PAC spokesperson Dumisane Zwane said the elections had taken place in a climate of tolerance.

Allegations that the government had used violence, intimidation and food to coerce people into voting for Zanu-PF could not be proved, he said.

‘The losing side must be sporting enough to accept defeat’
The PAC’s observer mission had been impressed that the MDC was given 3,1-million Zimbabwean dollars for its campaign and Zanu-PF Zim$3,3-million, from government funds.

“The government of Zimbabwe has demonstrated to the entire world that Africans are perfectly capable of delivering free and fair elections,” Zwane said.

The Institute for Democracy in South Africa (Idasa), however, is concerned about the integrity of the elections.

“We have concerns over the integrity of the election because aspects of the electoral process were not fully observed by domestic and international observers or party polling agents,” Idasa executive director Paul Graham said.

These aspects included the printing, distribution and auditing of ballot papers.

Also, people had been turned away in large numbers, which was significant considering the margin of victory in a number of constituencies.

There were also “unexplained discrepancies” between figures announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission and the official results for some constituencies, Graham said.

Because of the lack of transparency and external verification, he said, a large number of Zimbabweans and the official opposition had no confidence in the election’s outcome.

The DA said the elections had been neither free nor fair.

The ANC had commandeered the Southern African Development Community electoral observation mission, sidelining other governments and parties. The mission should have been led by the SADC chair, Mauritius, DA leader Tony Leon said.

The FF(43)+ said the lack of violence on election day should not be used to legitimise an unjust and immoral political system.

Zimbabwe’s political system was “inherently unjust”, said FF(43)+ spokesman Willie Spies, who spent three weeks in the neighbouring country as a member of the South African parliamentary observer team.

His party distanced itself from statements made by South African observer teams that Zimbabwe’s elections had been free and fair.

The elections had failed to comply with several SADC election guidelines. Among these standards were equal access to state media, participation by all citizens, freedom of association, and that the electoral commission be independent.

About a third of all registered Zimbabwean voters were out of the country and were not allowed to vote, Spies said.

“This is a substantial violation of SADC requirements that all citizens be able to take part in an election.”

Spies said the MDC had expressed its distrust of Zimbabwe’s electoral commission, saying its members supported Zanu-PF.

Despite the questions raised about the poll, Mugabe was triumphant when he spoke at a news conference as final results were declared on Saturday.

“This is a moment of victory for my party and the victory of my party translates itself, naturally, into a victory for our country,” the 81-year-old leader said.

The results clear the way for Mugabe to change the constitution to set up a second parliamentary chamber representing traditional chiefs, retired politicians and other eminent Zimbabweans.

Critics claim he wants to pack the senate with cronies to cement his influence and pick a successor without elections.

Mugabe made it plain he did not intend to step down soon.

“When I am a century old,” he said, laughing, in response to a question on Saturday about his retirement.

He said his victory was a message to British Prime Minister Tony Blair, whom he regards as his chief enemy.

His government, he said, would be prepared to mend fences with former colonial ruler Britain – a step he has previously ruled out.

He also spoke vaguely about Zanu-PF engaging in dialogue with the MDC.

Asked what message he had for the British prime minister after the elections, which he had dubbed the “anti-Blair” poll, Mugabe said: “I hope the result… has been an effective message.

“We have been at the receiving end of blows inflicted on us by Mr Blair, within the Commonwealth, within the European Union – getting the EU to impose sanctions on us, presenting an image that there is no rule of law, and that is false.

“We are very angry for that. But if (Blair) wants reconciliation, we are ready.”

Referring to Blair’s electoral test, expected in May, Mugabe said: “Zimbabwe will never interfere in the domestic affairs of Britain.”

Mugabe urged the MDC, beaten at the ballot box for the third time in five years, to accept defeat.

“The losing side must not look at it as the end of the world and must be sporting enough to accept defeat and not look for all kinds of excuses that might complicate relations.

“As Zanu-PF members of parliament, we will be prepared fully to interact with the members of the MDC in parliament… we will also remain ready to interact with the MDC outside parliament.” – Sapa-AP, Reuters

This article was originally published on page 6 of Cape Times on April 04, 2005

Source: Independent Online (IOL)
URL: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click…/p>