No run-off election until August
May 14th, 2008
Zimbabwe Today report that they have advance notice that the election run-off date will be announced tomorrow, and that it will be “90 days after May 2, the date of the official announcement of the disputed results”.
Ahead of announcements expected in Zimbabwe’s state-run media tomorrow, I can reveal that the date of the much-anticipated Presidential election run-off will be 90 days after May 2, the date of the official announcement of the disputed results.
This means the poll will be in August, and not as expected on May 24. The news comes as a shock to the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), which had anticipated that, as stated in the Electoral Act, the run-off would take place just 21 days after the official announcement.
My government source tells me that the decision has been taken by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission after its arm was twisted by Mugabe’s Joint Operation Command. The Central Intelligence Organsiation has reported that the terror campaign in the countryside, fully reported on this page, has been effective, but more time is needed to ensure a satisfactory run-off result.
The source said: “In 90 days Zanu-PF will make sure the MDC is dead and buried. The militia will beat everyone into voting for Mugabe.”
May 14th, 2008 19:38
“In 90 days Zanu-PF will make sure the MDC is dead and buried. The militia will beat everyone into voting for Mugabe.” WORLD PLEASE NOTE!
Now why does anybody still support Mugabe? In whose intererst is it that he will stay? They are few, but they benefit enormously. This is their last chance to loot the country and to finish building up their wealth. And they are at present stronger than those who realize change is inevitable. Its the same in the army. Most of the junior officers are disgruntled, they are unhappy, but because their bosses are telling them to stick by Mugabe they do. There is too much of a culture of fear, of impotence, for them to do anything drastic. The ‘war veterans’ are also split in two factions, some believe Mugabe must go, some are diehards and are easily led on. As for Mugabe himself, he is just waiting for big enough protests to be able to declare his tinpot state of emergency and rule by force. The people should keep hold of their hope. Life may yet get harder, but they should not give him what he wants: A legal path to military rule.
May 14th, 2008 20:27
What I fail to understand is what ‘government’ is there? Regardless of how the Presidential elections (presently undergoing vigorous rigging) end up going, is it not true to say the old government of Zimbabwe no longer exists?
And if so, then the civilised world should support this new elected government – and only it – by refusing to refer to the old guard as the “goverment”. No credence should be given to the previous regime.
Not a comment should appear anywhere containing the words “the government” when referring to the previous one.  All website comments should do as happened for Morgan – who now is widely referred to quite correctly as “President Tsvangarai” – by refering to the “previous regime” because it NO LONGER IS THE DAMN government.
If we all do not award it any credit AT ALL, the message might get out!
May 14th, 2008 23:56
As long as there are no professors teaching the Philosophy of Human Rights at the University of Zimbabwe, the value system for the people of Zimbabwe bounces from thug to thug, from ideology to ideology, all of them based on myths and cults of personality.
May 15th, 2008 02:49
Now is the time to dismantle any propaganda machines while this illegal regime is looking for extra time. The hacking of the Herald was a great start. The ZBC should be next. Stop any further brainwashing by the lunatic Mugabe and his ministers.
May 15th, 2008 03:00
Can I register to vote in the run-off ? I haven’t voted before im 20yrs old. I will be going back for holidays soon. If they are in August I would like to vote.
May 15th, 2008 03:21
Why have laws regulating elections if they aren’t to be followed? Moreover, what is to happen to those in the rural areas between now and August? How many more people will give their lives, homes and way of life for the sake of an election which may or may not be fair? Mugabe’s government operates on fear and want. The winter months for your people I fear will be difficult, but perhaps with the warmth of Spring and rebirth will come the rebirth of your nation. I pray it is so.
May 15th, 2008 09:00
Whilst this announcement may seem dismal to those in Zimbabwe and life threatening….. people in Zimbabwe know how to survive these sorts of delays and will cover their true feeling and thoughts……. they have had practice for many many years….We must look at this as a positive opportunity it will give us time to ralley the Students out of the country….Time to register more people to vote….Time for us to save up money to buy the tickets home to go and vote…do not forget there are over 5 million of us living outside of Zimbabwe if we gather our wits about us we can do the work outside the country and return and do the business on the day……time is on our side here……
May 15th, 2008 09:24
Why did the most recent presidential elections take place whilst there a pending case that was challenging the 2002 presidential elections?
Please note that the opposition isn’t MDC anymore since they now control parliament. ZANU-PF is now the opposition party
May 15th, 2008 11:03
Mugabe and his merry band of mentally challenged confederates are at it again- sending the country on a merry-go around. It would have been comic were it not so tragic.
ÂÂ
I still think it is strategically wrong for the MDC to have lent its name to this run-off charade. By the time this is all-over, the MDC will, in my view be a shadow of its former self. These people know what they are doing and 90 days is all they need to finish what they started.
Zimbabweans need help and fast and that help resides elsewhere, in the mass of humanity we commonly know as the international community centered in New York, Geneva, Brussels and Addis Ababa- There I believe is where we should go and plead our case as a people no longer able to help ourselves. If we do not make our case forcefully, I see Mugabe getting away with murder literally, -let me stand corrected on this.
ÂÂ
May 15th, 2008 12:16
Just picking up on Idzodzo’s comment.The MDC won the parliamentary election…..I don’t know anything about Zimbabwe’s constitution, but surely parliamentary control counts for something. Do they have any legal authority over the armed forces right now? What powers to parliament have under the constitution?
May 15th, 2008 12:27
Zimbabwe’s issue will be solved when those who talk the most talk about how ‘terrible’ things are and how evil the regime is… actually feel so strongly that they put their money where their mouths are and go and intervene …
And if they cannot do so they should seek to support those willing to do such things…
For a very long time…the bleeding heart liberal brigade has chosen to dismiss the reality that the policy of soliciting the support from an uncaring and split International Community is nothing more than a self serving, conscience salving circus.
So long as a bystanders philosophy of NON INTERVENTION and the liberal promoting of Zimbabwean helplessness exists nothing will change.ÂÂ
Using the battered and dead bodies of Zimbabweans as some beacon of morality and principal in the face of state sponsored terrorism and violence, shows a gross lack of care and a lack of commonsense .
It is ironic that many would not seek to use the solutions they promote were it their own nations in trouble…. To date not one single international issue has been resolved using the methods they uphold.
People claim their strategy of not having boots on the ground is successful basing their assessments on false hope, over optimism and unsubstantiated myths of the regimes impending demise yet unless there is INTERVENTION there is only half the work done.
May 15th, 2008 12:27
Re Mambo
I am not sure what other options there are for the MDC and Zimbabweans in general. The whole system is being stage managed by Mugabe as even with a runoff there is no gurantee he will reliquish power graciously. Not participating would hand him the presidency on a silver platter. The current violence is meant to ensure ZANU PF stays in power…either through a scared electorate come the runoff day or as you say an outright refusal to partcipate in the depacle. If Mugabe possesed an iota of morality then boycotting the runoff might have the desired effect but we are dealing with a maglomaniac who you have to fight on their terms. By participating at least the people of Zimbabwe have a symbolic avenue to fight this evil. I also despair at what other options are available. I personally think this is the best we can do under the circumstances. God save our country.
May 15th, 2008 12:49
Can we all please apply some additional thought whenever we write or speak about the Zimbabwe regime. As correctly pointed out above, the MDC is no longer the opposition but the governing party. All those purporting to act as ministers are just that, “purported ministers”; cabinet was of course dissolved before the elections. Let us refer to those purporting to act as the government of Zimbabwe as the “illegitimate regime”. I haven’t quite thought of what to call Mugabe, (actually I have thought about it a lot but most of the names that spring to mind are not appropriate for this blog or any mature and responsible usage!). Technically speaking I suppose that he is still president, only just, may be someone else will have suggestions.
May 15th, 2008 15:50
Thank you Steve, we should get out of the habit as referring to ZANU PF as the govt. They are NOT our government. Regime, yes they are a regime – meaning ruling over. And illegitimate, meaning unlawful. So thank you, let us call things by their names.
May 15th, 2008 16:13
Can I pick up on two points above -
@ Erin, 12.16, and @ Anonymous, 12.27
The Zim Constitution requires 2/3rds of Parliament to change and amend the Constitution itself. I believe it would require a similar majority to remove, or bring in a measure of no confidence in, Mugabe. That is, of course, by democratic means. It has been estimated that, as the now ruling MDC and others have 110 seats, they would require only about 30 Zanu-PF MPs to acquire the 67% needed. This may not be such an insurmountable problem, as it only requires just over a third of the Zanu sitting members to be persuaded that life would be better for them and/or their constituents (depending on how selfish they are) if they were to vote for change.
As far as ‘intervention’ is concerned, it is very difficult for a country like Britain or America to intervene militarily without either a perceived world threat, or a threat to themselves. It is certainly difficult for Britain alone, considering their colonial past, and America, in the throes of an election year, cannot police every corner of the globe. It’s ironic that Mugabe will take American money for food aid etc., but will not allow Americans in to observe an election process. I personally think that if the African Union countries are to mean anything as an organization of countries coming together, and standing together, they should be the ones to consider intervening for all sorts of reasons, and not only those favouring Zimbabwe alone.
May 15th, 2008 20:03
I know it seems obvious, but what I find conspicuous by its very absence is the frequent & vociferous pointing out by everyone at every opportunity, of the difference in ZEC’s ability to count depending on who has the most votes.
In years gone by, when Bob’s rigging worked better, the counting practically happened overnight. Now, when his ability to rig is waning, so too is the basic ability to count!
Coincidence – I think not. If that is not blatant proof of what is really happening, my bum’s a biscuit.
May 15th, 2008 22:00
Beth,
The former ruling party ZANU is a master of subterfuge and obfuscation and we all know about that. And as you rightly note they have a well oiled plan and I suppose one of its aims is to wear the winning party and the masses who voted for it down- to have them cave in.
That the MDC is being reactive ( literally being led by the nose) is quite obvious and each time they do that, ZANU moves the goal posts ( witness they waited until Morgan said he was in for the run-off and then sprung on him this latest outrage). They are smart and in no hurry to go anywhere. Tell me what will it feel to the millions who will trudge again to the polls only to have ZANU withhold the results or announce an outrageously rigged one? Isn’t that akin to giving Mugabe the high seat on platter?
Let’s be realistic, until something moves in the security apparatus, the MDC and all our hopes for change will remain on the margins of our country’s political landscape; ZANU does not need us rule and the contempt with which it holds us is all evident in the current senseless brutality- its the army stupid!!!!
An international campaign could serve to high- light the following : One that Mugabe is a menace not only to regional but global peace ( he polarized the recent security council debate on the county and that’s no good for a global system grappling with other more pressing survival problems)- he therefore must be gotten rid off.
Two that the UN and other supranational groups have a moral obligation to extract from the illegal regime minimum standards of conduct both internally and externally- which could mean asking Mugabe to surrender power to those who have the people’s mandate to rule.
Three, the threat of use of force is a legitimate instrument of what we might call coercive diplomacy and the distinct possibility that it could actually be deployed might set Mugabe and his generals to thinking more rationally. Four, a spirited courting of “moderate” elements in ZANU to disown Mugabe and pledge to work with change agents would also weaken his grip. Such elements would need international assurances that they will survive post-Mugabe. Five, just get on with the indictments of all those accused of HR violations since 2000- a real international din over this and see what happens.
Such demands would be accompanied by an explicit threat forceful pressure ( overt and covert) should Mugabe fail to comply. Witness Chinamasa’s recent whining that sanctions must be removed. Its hurting them and I believe that’s where we must apply more pressure; close them off on the world stage and let’s see what happens- Simply put knowing where it hurts ZANU most might ultimately do the trick- sorry to say I am not convinced the ballot box is the right place.
One last thing, I have no truck with people who beat on defenseless women and children and if this is their idea of defending the revolution then heaven forbid- these a lily-livered cowards to boot!!!!
May 16th, 2008 02:05
@ True GritÂÂ
 The issue of intervention is one based upon … peoples willingness to organise and go, this fixation by so many that its only Britain and other nations that can act when close to 4 million Zimbabweans exist outside the nation is a red herring and not even worthy of comment….
The issue is past the highlighting or finger pointing stage…The end result of ALL present efforts fails and falls short because it involves an attitude that seeks to do all things but confront the evil directly. The killings have begun so what consequences are feared?????
What point is there to retell the tale to the same do nothing hand wringing outsiders when some Zimbabweans are all to willing to do…but lack the resources.ÂÂ
The Zimbabwe issue is 10 years old…it exists the international community knows about it..the more time people waste in the same  vacant discussions about actions that SADC..UN…USA ..AU should do but wont do…dismisses the very notion of the people power that so many proclaim to promote.
People claim to hate what is taking place??? Then best they discuss how to put their money where their mouths are and organise how the issue should be stopped instead of contradicting themselves one minute saying the people have power to make change happen …then the next minute telling how powerless people are to actually effect change and do anything.
May 16th, 2008 17:00
anon
And what exactly do you mean by people power? I assume you are talking about the forthcoming ballot right or I am missing something? But wait a minute, haven’t we been told that even if the run-off results favor the continuously winning party the perennially losing party will not yield? What else is left of people power to do in such circumstances? The international system has rules which ZANU is willfully violating ( mass murder for one) and has been violating for the past 28 years. All we are saying is it’s about time the international community came to the rescue of a country which can no longer help itself and which stands the risk of imploding with tragic consequences. Hand- wringing has always been a hallmark of international diplomacy but we won’t know how hard it is to convince well meaning parties until we try- thats the whole point!!!
May 16th, 2008 19:40
@ Mambo
I will be str8…Its amazing the way people here love to go around in circles…ALL admit elections wont see a hand over of power…ALL admit SADC,UN etc does next to nothing…BURMA, DARFUR, PALESTINE, TIBET etc Then ALL conclude the solution is elections and appealing to SADC, UN etc…
No…the solution is actually a mix of outside pressure and internal confrontation…sic Bosnia 1994.
The truth isnt meant to be told…that Zimbabwe is in the midst of a failing COLOUR revolution project. (The ruling party does what it does because it can hide its corruption behind a justifiable ‘defence of the nation’ alibi…it can do this because the opposition are less than honest about who really pulls their strings)…
Due to the nature of the regime change operation…most significant sponsorship goes to the civic groups / political parties …already favoured by the architects of the faltering plan.
The term ‘people power’ was highlighted here several times over…supposedly  to mean writing the same ‘SOMEONE MUST DO SOMETHING’ emails and forming the same ’SOMEONE MUST DO SOMETHING’ petitions and sending them to third parties in order for these to exert some nebulous influence on the regime to cede power to the MDC. …Sorry – NEVER GONNA HAPPEN.
What no one has yet done is organise for people that are willing to go and intervene. If you cant be a body then you can provide funds or resources.
Out of 4 million + Zimbabweans outside Zimbabwe…MANY would go back and intervene to stop the killings…by presenting a deterrence factor to the killers… but they lack the well-funded cental core to sustain such operations…ALSO …The organisation of such action is real people power that threatens both the regime…AND the architects of the COLOUR revolution and their various NGO/ CIVIL SOCIETY surrogates.
As stated…ITS A CONTRADICTION to one minute say the people have power to make change happen …then the next minute telling how powerless people in and outside Zimbabwe are to actually effect change and do anything.
May 17th, 2008 16:59
Anon,
I notice in the thread on poor Memory you accuse this site of not walking the talk-please correct me if I mistake your message. You further make sententious statements to the effect that this is all a bloody liberal boondoggle that is as far removed from the Zimbabwe facts as can be. Tell me, how else do you want Zimbabwe’s present crisis presented to the world? Be more explicit-is it war you are advocating in place of high-minded liberal hot air?
And tell me by baring her horrible wounds, is hapless Memory playing to the liberal gallery, or rather Sokwanele is doing it for her? Listen, war will not solve Zimbabwe’s crisis and I don’t think anyone wants that now least of all the surviving victims of this madness. By exposing this latest human carnage, Sokwanele is simply reminding the world, how base, how crass and yes how cynical we can be towards fellow humans. If the world choses not to act so be it but don’t expect anyone to take up arms against Mugabe because that’s an exercise in futility.
I am holding out for the day the international community says enough is enough and acts decisively to drive out Mugabe and his horde for they offend human decency- it need not be through force of arms either.
ÂÂ
ÂÂ
May 17th, 2008 18:30
I am given to understand that those many Zimbabwean nationals who will not actually be in Zimbabwe during the run-off election day will be officially barred from any form of postal ballot. I have seen various websites which have a computerized voting box. Newspaper sites often do this. Could anyone explain if it would be possible for these expats to vote stating their names, and either passport or identity certificate numbers, thus proving that they are actually Zimbabweans who are voting? Although the electoral authorities would ignore these votes, which, without doubt would be, if not 100%, certainly overwhelmingly, in favour of Morgan; at least the world and the MDC could use this data as a proof of the change that all these many online voters would vote for. the voting website would need to be publicised very widely by the BBC etc. Any comments or ideas?
May 17th, 2008 23:12
@ Mambo
1) The comment I left was based upon two previous posts that were censored…Where I stated that the end of the crisis would involve ideas that contradict the liberal ideal of Zimbabwe being sorted out by the same failed ideas. The issue of the attack on the young woman was presented for comment…Why the censorship???
2)As stated the issue of Zimbabwe is not the simplistic, EVIL GOVERNMENT versus VIRTUOUS OPPOSITION…that is being presented. Not all within ZANU agree with whats going on so why present the story in a way that hightens a feeling of antagonism?
Had some people more integrity then the whole story would be told from the perspective of both sides…there are bigger issues going on underneath the surface and ordinary people are being used as cannon fodders by both sides.
Research COLOUR REVOLUTIONS…The point is if some want to be rid of ZANU then get rid of them stop pretending that its all about human rights and the love of Zimbabwean people when the real winners will be the IMF, CFR and other neo-liberals.If people feel that the highlighting of death and injury works…WHERE DOES IT WORK???
3)NO ONE advocates war…it has never been mentioned by me, although now the situation is such that war is almost inevitable…to deny this is the excersise in futility.
I advocate INTERVENTION and DETERRENCE…the point I make is that ALL trying to remove ZANU PF should be honest about their true natures and intention rather than hiding behind defenceless people…You cant start a war with killers then say you are peaceful… Or is helping the economy fall apart so the public in Zimbabwe revolts a peaceful act…(dont believe me..research what Chester Crocker said in 2001.
From some cynical powers and their surrogates set out to oust ZANU PF by the back door I say NO be adults about it..its a power struggle…stop acting like no one does any research. Get rid of them and stop using peoples suffering as a cover.
May 18th, 2008 01:00
@ Anon
The intervention and deterrence that you advocate can really only be interpreted as one thing: Put a gun in the hands of every teenage and adult citizen so that they can defend themselves. But the question is: How do you achieve this? Do you drop them by plane at night, like in the WW2 in France? Anyhow, this would be a retrograde step for civilization and democracy. It is not easy to stop a full-scale bloodbath as other countries have shown.
It’s a power struggle, yes. But its a struggle not of the MDC’s instigation, but one created by an illegal regime which have bedded themselves in without any regard for the suffering and destruction of their country and people. There is no hidden agenda behind the MDC, only a strong political will to succeed, and a moral obligation to win, and not to lose yet again.
May 18th, 2008 03:30
@ True Grit
Why the automatic presumption about arming people??? Sorry if you feel unsure about what types of intervention exist ASK. If the issue is beyond that please remember that we are talking of non-violence…so are those thoughts mine seeing as the idea of WW2 and parachutes came from you.
Its strange that you mention a retrograde step then admit a power struggle exists..(what does that mean exactly). Its commonsense Zanu PF never created the power struggle…who was there for them to struggle against?? The land invasions had no resistance …the only opposition before 1999 was ZUM…so where did the power struggle come from???
Do you really think that the same powerful people attacking ZANU now said a peep at the time 20,000 people were killed during Gukurahundi???
They never uttered a word…
Now its a case of their financial interests being threatened Mugabe is the same devil as Saddam, or Chavez in Venezuela…Recently before the election £2billion in reconstruction money was touted…why is that money go to Zimbabwe only when MDC is in power? with so many Zimbabweans destitute??? unless its an incentive to incite trouble.
Sorry True Grit…as much as I dislike the situation AND am accused of a violent disposition against the regime…it doesnt make me blind to the facts…MDC and some civic groups are paid for by outside sponsors.ie AUS, USA DoS…in short at certain levels they REALLY are surrogates for a policy of regime change.(why do you think after 10 years MDC has no post 29 March election plan B beyond the RUN-OFF stage set by ZANU PF???)..telling half the story wont change the truth it will only hurt ordinary people.
May 18th, 2008 13:28
Anon,
I am not sure our postings here reflect the true extent to which we want to communicate our positions on the crisis in Zimbabwe.I am perfectly willing to engage you in a less casual debate on the point you raise which suggests the whole Western policy on Zimbabwe is informed by lopsided capitalist interests. Would you say the grumblings at the AU and the UN are also symptomatic of that capitalist malaise? In addition I do not see the Zimbabwean crisis as an elitist power struggle and neither do I see any more underlying factor other than that of a failed regime that is sacrificing a once mighty nation on the alter of political expediency ( that was the whole point of the 2000 land invasion). I see a people struggling to free themselves from a regime that has abdicated its responsibility towards them.Please let me know if you are up to so I give you my private email for a long chat on this.
May 18th, 2008 16:14
@ Mambo
I have no problem communicating with you at length.
You can contact me through
r.evolution@hotmail.co.uk