Aren't elections being held in Zim this friday 29th?

does any body have any insight on how it is going. Lets just hope things will get better for the people of Zimbabwe.

This may give an idea how the election will go in Zim:

http://www.sokwanele.com/thisiszimbabwe/archives/767

Looks like the election process is in full swing.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080327/wl_nm/zimbabwe_election_dc

Ijust read the same account of vote buying on Yahoo.....how tragic!

Yes, but it is Saturday the 29th, although reprotedly there were efforts by ZANU-PF supporters to convince some rural voters that only ZANU-PF votes on Saturday and that the opposition vote on Sunday.

Edit: For pretty full coverage of the Zim news, with a minimum from the official government news sources, try ZimbabweSituation.Com.

Here's a sample:

quote:

We'll give you a farm, says Robert Mugabe
The Telegraph

By Peta Thornycroft and Byron Dziva in Harare
Last Updated: 2:52am GMT 27/03/2008

Zimbabwe's ruling party is offering voters a generous incentive to
re-elect President Robert Mugabe for a sixth term: "If you want a farm, vote
Zanu-PF".

The message is being relayed in a campaign jingle for the ruling party
that is being played repeatedly on the country's four radio stations, all
state-controlled, ahead of Saturday's parliamentary and presidential polls.

As well as offering a farm to government loyalists, the jingle goes
on: "If you want a tractor, vote Zanu-PF. If you want a company, vote
Zanu-PF."

quote:

Originally posted by Charles_Helm:

Here's a sample:

quote:

"If you want a farm, vote
Zanu-PF".

As well as offering a farm to government loyalists, the jingle goes
on: "If you want a tractor, vote Zanu-PF. If you want a company, vote
Zanu-PF."

Sort of like what the Democrats promise here. Maybe our systems are more alike than we would care to admit.

Mugabe has let it be known that he is not relinquishing power regardless of the outcome of the elections...so it will likely be rough next week if he loses. Could be another Kenya scenario. If he wins (and he may well win, amazingly) then it will be business as usual with maybe a little protesting here and there.

The rural voters support Mugabe because he has given them land (and their Chiefs bakkies). They don't really care about the collapse of the formal sector because they are for the most part subsistence farmers. Each has some cows or goats, some chickens, a patch of corn, some beer and a passel of kids. That's the African dream. And many have land thanks to Mugabe.

A huge number of the urban voters have left the country for South Africa, for the most part. I am not sure what the split is but Zim has a very high rural population.

els, there is a ton of info at: http://www.zimbabwesituation.com/

There is no way Mugabe would win a fair election.

Reg Kenya's post-election situation, where disputed election results triggered violence, Mugabe had this to say:

quote:

"Just dare try it...We don't play around while you try to please your British allies. Just try it and you will see. We want to see you do it."

If he loses, he had this to say:

quote:

"We used guns to liberate ourselves from the Rhodesian colonial government 28 years ago and we are going to use the same guns to stop the MDC or Makoni...[we will] go to the bush and use guns to stop the opposition from taking over the administration of this government."

Words are cheap, but this could go any number of directions. As has been the recent history w/Zim, it would not be surprising if the people just continue to do nothing, and things march on as-is (for better or worse).

quote:

Originally posted by Bill C:
As has been the recent history w/Zim, it would not be surprising if the people just continue to do nothing, and things march on as-is (for better or worse).

That would be my guess as to the outcome. We shall see. TIA.

Can you imagine Mugabe moving into the bush now? He will be off to some other country to enjoy all the $$$$ he has sacked away.

465H&H

I just read where he is giving away 450 cars to doctors and hospital workers to get their voting support. Furthermore, he promises each of them a home in 2 years.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:

quote:

Originally posted by Charles_Helm:

Here's a sample:

quote:

"If you want a farm, vote
Zanu-PF".

As well as offering a farm to government loyalists, the jingle goes
on: "If you want a tractor, vote Zanu-PF. If you want a company, vote
Zanu-PF."

Sort of like what the Democrats promise here. Maybe our systems are more alike than we would care to admit.

This is so funny it hurts. All good humor has more than a ring of truth, eh?

JPK

Yea I'm surprised Jesse Jackson isn't over there campaigning for mugabe. Oh well there is some hope. I'm not sure what it is though. Is the next big chief going to be worse that this one????

I'm surprised that Uncle Bob hasn't contributed to Obama's campaign, like Oprah has done with her millions.

Namibiahunter

One thing that seems to be missing from the free land deal is a title. The farmers who lost the land had a legal title.
the squatters are part of a voting rights program African style. (You either vote right or lose your property). Hunter gatherer groups make great socialists(dems) always willing to vote for part of someone elses hard earned success.

Here in Pretoria on local radio yesterday AM I heard Mugabe had won the election. A sad joke.

Aha, the old chicken in every pot works again, or make that a vulture...

Surly you posters knew the outcome of that election before it was held! It was a done deal from the get go...otherwise it would have been a civil war.

And when that old man dies, his replacement is in place and there shall remain until things get so bad that civil unrest or perhaps war begins...

History repeats itself, and Africa is the same story over and over in every country. The survival of the fitest or the meanest SOB on the block..

Oh Well hope spings eternal. Iagree that the next big man will be as ruthless as this one or he will be pushed out.

Oh well it's africa baby

quote:

Originally posted by 465H&H:
Can you imagine Mugabe moving into the bush now? He will be off to some other country to enjoy all the $$$$ he has sacked away.

465H&H

How ya been buddy?


He will just buy another country with his $$$, perhaps Dubai. Saeed might have a new neighbor

hope everyone here has been good, i'm off to Germany for another operation on my back 2nd one in a month, I hope to hunt next year. My best to everyone, and God bless Zimbabwe.

quote:

hope everyone here has been good, i'm off to Germany for another operation on my back 2nd one in a month, I hope to hunt next year. My best to everyone, and God bless Zimbabwe.

Best of luck to you.

Eric!

The beast of luck my friend!

465H&H

quote:

Originally posted by yukon delta:
Furthermore, he promises each of them a home in 2 years.

I guess that means a bunch of white folks will be booted out of their homes in Harare.

Yahoo is just now reporting Mugabe losing the election by a wide margin. Opposition claims to have victory by getting 65% of the vote in early returns, thus projecting victory. Someone reported a day or two ago that Mugabe had won?? The election was just today. We will have to wait for the "official" results posted by Uncle Bob I assume.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

Well it seems that the turn out was huge whether or not Mugabe will go with out blood shed is unknown.

All calm here this morning- so far.

Govt says Mugabwe will win 57% of the vote- that was on Thursday.

MDC is claiming a win now, interesting.

"Harare - The main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) on Sunday claimed an early lead ahead of the official announcement of results from the general election where veteran leader Robert Mugabe is fighting for an extended rule.

"This far, short of a miracle, we have won this election beyond any reasonable doubt. We have won this election," MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti told a news conference early Sunday.

The electoral body said it would start announcing early partial returns sometime on Sunday. "

From Election

quote:

Zimbabwe govt warns opposition over victory claims
Sun 30 Mar 2008, 9:34 GMT Reuters

Follow this
link for more details.

One of our cattle farms is right next to Zim - don't like it!

Watch this BBC Video (high-speed, Media Player) from Sunday as the counting is taking place:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/newsid_7320000/newsid_...asb=1&news=1&bbcws=1

Thanks guys. Gayana it is good to get some news from on the ground there.

HOPE!

The following is the text of an email message that I received from the US Consulate in Harare a little while ago:

"March 30, 2008

This warden message is to advise American citizens that following national elections on Saturday there is a volatile situation and the potential for violence across Zimbabwe on the evening of Sunday, March 30, throughout Sunday night and into Monday, particularly in Harare and other urban centers. The US Embassy in Harare recommends that until further notice American citizens should move to a safe location and stay there until we provide additional information.

We anticipate sending the next message no later than 7:00 a.m. Monday, March 31.

As the Department of State develops information on any potential security threats to U.S. citizens overseas, it shares credible threat information through its consular information program documents, available on the Internet at http://travel.state.gov. In addition to information on the Internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the U.S. or outside the U.S. and Canada on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.

American citizens can register their presence in Zimbabwe via the Internet at https://travelregistration.state.gov  or in person at the U.S. Embassy in Harare, located at 172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue (Tel. 263-4-250-593/4/5, email consularharare@state.gov).  In the event of an after-hours emergency, please call the above number and ask to be transferred to the duty officer.

Be safe out there,
Jayne"

Lets hope this is more pre-emptive posturing, and not true:

quote:

Military prevents Tsvangirai victory?

The MDC US Representatives are reliably informed that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) will, within the next 2-4 hours declare Robert Mugabe the victor of Zimbabwe's Presidential election. The military brass in Zimbabwe met earlier today and decided to instruct the ZEC to declare Mugabe the winner. This is being done despite results showing that the opposition Movement for Democratic Change has won a great majority of the parliamentary seats and its Presidential candidate is ahead in the already counted votes by about 68%.

The ZEC was given 2-4 hours to allow the military to deploy in all the major urban areas to crush any potential revolt by Zimbabweans. We, the MDC representatives in the US are awaiting further developments on this issue but we call upon the State Department, National Security Council, US Senators and Congresspersons to warn Mugabe and his military against subverting the will of the voters of Zimbabwe. Zimbabweans have overwhelmingly decided to elect new leaders...

Handel Mlilo, Chief Representative
Ralph Black, Deputy Chief Representative
240-505-0179
214-603-3873

NB: SWRA phoned Mr. Mlilo who said he wanted to double check this information as someone had told him it was incorrect. We called him back and he stands by this story

http://www.swradioafrica.com/news300308/military300308.htm

Bill I second that hope. I have been watching the news from Zim all day as well and continue to hope that the situation remains peaceful and maybe even that the real results will come out. I am seldom confused with an optimist but I suppose stranger things have happened.

All we can do now is hope. I guess the good news is that it can't get much worse for the average person in Zim. They realy are suffering.

Well maybe by the morning here we will know something more. I like a lot of people have been closely watching the news. Regardless of how this turns out I just don't think it is possbile for Bob to hang on much longer.

HOPE

E

I saw a report that the election commission announced that they would release the results at 0400 GMT (or around 11:00 p.m. CST). We'll see.

quote:

Originally posted by MJines:
I saw a report that the election commission announced that they would release the results at 0400 GMT (or around 11:00 p.m. CST). We'll see.

Zimbabwe poll commission says no results until Monday

Reuters

Sun 30 Mar 2008, 22:01 GMT

HARARE, March 30 (Reuters) - No results from Zimbabwe's election will be
released until 6 a.m. (0400 GMT) on Monday, the country's electoral
commission said on Sunday.

Commission chairman George Chiweshe said results had been delayed by "the
need to meticulously verify them". The release of the results will come 35
hours after polls closed amid opposition concerns that President Robert
Mugabe's government was trying to rig the outcome.

"That is not an inordinate delay. It is a very early result ... surely two
days is a fair time in an election of this magnitude," Chiweshe told a news
conference. (Reporting by Stella Mapenzauswa)

Zimbabwe to learn election results



by Fanuel Jongwe 44 minutes ago

HARARE (AFP) - The first results from Zimbabwe's elections were due to be announced on Monday after the opposition accused authorities of sitting on the outcome in a bid to keep President Robert Mugabe in power.

As complaints mounted over the delay in releasing any figures from Saturday's joint presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections, the chairman of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) said the first announcement should be made early Monday.

"The first results will start to be published at 6:00 am (0400 GMT)," George Chiweshe said at a news conference shortly before midnight.

"The commission is aware that these results are eagerly awaited both within and outside our borders. However, it should be borne in mind that it is a mammoth national exercise."

The statement by Chiweshe, who did not say when the final result would be announced, came after the opposition Movement for Democratic Change said it was clear Mugabe had lost and it would not accept any declaration to the contrary.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080331/wl_africa_afp/zimb...K8J7ztgPuH3Xm3e96Q8F

Just FYI, here's a good site to follow the news about Zimbabwe:

http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/Zimbabwe/Home/

-Bob F.

Someone needs to snipe that prick.

...or try: www.zimbabwesituation.com

quote:

Originally posted by 577NitroExpress:
Someone needs to snipe that prick.

Yeah, a long time ago.