TV Schedule

Mugabe wins election 'landslide'

  2. mischabarrett
  3. related topics
"Robert Mugabe is expected to be sworn in as President of Zimbabwe again today after one of the bloodiest and most controversial elections in African history. Zimbabwean officials said that Mugabe had won a landslide victory with most votes counted in Friday's widely derided presidential run-off.

Officials were reported as saying that results were showing a dramatic reversal of Morgan Tsvangirai's lead in the first round of elections three months ago, giving Mugabe a resounding victory before he heads to an African Union summit to confront growing criticism from the continent's other leaders.

But the ruling Zanu-PF party's claims that voters have deserted the opposition Movement for Democratic Change in droves to support Mugabe's claim that the vote is part of a struggle to maintain Zimbabwe's independence have met with incredulity and anger.

The head of one foreign election observer mission, Marwick Khumalo, who leads the Pan-African Parliament monitors, said that many Zimbabweans had voted only out of fear and that the turnout was in truth 'very, very low' after Tsvangirai withdrew from the race because of the violence.

Khumalo also suggested that many voters deliberately defaced their ballots after they were intimidated into going to the polls. He said that at one polling place in rural Matabeleland nearly 40 per cent of the ballots were spoilt.

The African Union is divided, with its commission chairman, Jean Ping, urging compromise.
Countries such as Nigeria, Botswana, Kenya and Tanzania have criticised the poll to some extent, but there is less inclination for a confrontation with Mugabe from South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola.

US officials called the vote a sham and said it will seek a UN Security Council resolution this week to send a 'strong message of deterrence' to Zimbabwe's leader and is expected to press for an arms embargo on Zimbabwe and a travel ban on its officials.

Gordon Brown yesterday said that Zimbabwe had reached a new low point with the election. 'We will work with international partners to find a way to close this sickening chapter that has cost so many lives,' the Prime Minister said."

By Chris McGreal.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu has urged the international community to intervene in Zimbabwe - by force if necessary.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7479696.stm

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says he will push for negotiations on a new constitution and fresh elections. He also kept open the possibility that Mr Mugabe could remain as a ceremonial head of state.
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-1320354,00...
mischabarrett

18 responses // Mugabe wins election 'landslide'

  • I did NOT see that coming! Elections really throw up the odd shock now and then eh?!
    mn2brs
  • watch this comment being used here, here, here, here and here
    Desmond Tutu has urged African leaders not to recognise Mugabe, and his - these are my words! - "sham" Presidency.
    emmahill
  • Yeah, wasn't much point in casting your vote at all, (other that to save yourself a beating by Zanu thugs). How can you hold an election with only one candidate?

    The high numbers of spoiled papers and wasted votes cast for the withdrawn MDC (in some areas outnumbering valid votes) might indicate that maybe Tsvangirai got it wrong in withdrawing from the ballot .. I understand that he did not want to force his supporters to endanger themselves by voting for him, but maybe he underestimated their stomach for the fight?

    I guess either way Mugabe would have made sure he won, and without Tsvangirai's participation the election holds no credence, but I feel that the decision should have been available to the people ... What do you think?
    Pardon
  • watch this comment being used here, here, here and here
    Even the kid in the picture is like "polling station, my ass!"
    glenobo
  • Reuters are reporting that Morgan Tsvangirai has turned down the 'kind' invitation to attend Mugabe's inauguration.

    This is laughable.
    emmahill
  • http://thebeardedman.blogspot.com/2005/06/mugabe-quotes...
    Congrats Mugabe, you've completely screwed Zimbabwe' chances of having any form of democracy.

    A leopard can never change its spots...
    2003 June: "Let the MDC and its leadership be warned that those who play with fire will not only be burnt, but consumed by that fire."
    At a rally in Nyamandlovu, Matabeleland.
    subsequent
  • He has now established a reason for revolt. with many innocent people dying.
    MoonLoon
  • Another horrific example of what happens when a mentally ill man has a lot of power. He joins a long list of insane, power hungry beasts who have risen to power over the years. These men lust after power and get pleasure from murder and torture. They are insane.
    Abaigeal
  • Another failure of the U.N.
    mjsmith11
  • That kid's expression says it all.
    milkradio
  • Does Brown want to actually do something yet?
    Does he want to be the leader he promised to be?
    No, wait, he just wants to be Mr. Undecidable.
    wannabedoc
  • I mean, I heard he was polling well among all demographics and everybody in Zimbabwe felt confident that it was in their best interest to vote for who they should vote for. He was the strong armed candidate they said and very persuasive.
    JudahEvan
  • Call on your leaders to assist in removing this dictator from power. He has stolen the election away from Zimbabwean people. This type of tyranny should not be allowed into a democracy.
    lifestudentno83
  • 'You can vote for anyone you like, as long as it's me!' How on earth is the election allowed??? I do not understand!
    khanrob
  • More killing. More mayhem. What a cirsis that never ends!
    cibalin
  • they really need an electoral college..
    TKerger96
  • Kind of reminds you of how Bush beat Gore.... Except in a much more crude fashion. Then again, perhaps crude thuggery is somehow more honest than manipulated legalities... In either case the end result is the same I think.
    Mike_Johnston
  • Mugabe does not care what the world thinks. He laughs while other countries decide whether or not to call him names. Those poor people are suffering and paying with their lives :(
    Elligirl
  • Despot !

    Families paniccing to vote just so they can get ink on their fingers to stop the thugs killing them.

    Is there no legitimate action the UN can take here ?
    Purdey
  • http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/Republic_of_Rhodesia
    Uncyclopedia's description of Zimbabwe has to be the most accurate.
    Mr_Costello

Add your response

Login/Registration is required to add a response.