Looking for news on the Zimbawean election I stumbled across the wonderfully entertaining website of the Zimbawean Herald, the state run newspaper. The editors of The Herald is obviously in denial about the election (and much else besides) as its main headline states that Zanu-PF and the MDC was in a photo finish for the House of Assembly.
The Herald stated that Zanu-PF had won 97 seats and the Tsvangirai faction of the MDC 99. But the Zimbawean Electoral Commission had actually officially announced that Zanu-PF had only taken 94 seats and the combined opposition 114.
My favourite article is the one claiming that the “British government and its prime minister, Gordon Brown, have now come out in the open as the real power behind the MDC Tsvangirai faction, demanding the release of the results of Zimbabwe’s elections that show an opposition victory.” Money Quote
Almost the entire British state machinery — from the BBC to its House of Commons — was almost going hysterical over the delay in announcing the election results by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission….
Given the intimate relationship between the global media structures, Western politics and the quest for world domination, analysts say this vindicates the view that what is at stake in Zimbabwe is far bigger than what the contestants, with the notable exception of those in Zanu-PF, realise.
A view vindicated by the conspicuous flow of many white former commercial farmers who trooped back into Zimbabwe once the MDC prematurely claimed victory. Some of them have headed to the farms where they threatened to evict newly resettled farmers particularly around Chegutu and Kariba, as many are coming through Chirundu Border Post.
Zimbabwe, the analysts say, represents the last frontier of resistance between the black nationalist struggle and Western neo-colonial encroachment under the guise of globalisation and the parochial discourse of democratisation.
No wonder the MDC won the election. Who can take such rubbish seriously? I also wonder who these “analysts” are that are quoted by The Herald? And note the claim that “almost” the entire Bristish state machinery was “almost” going hysterical. Those lovely creative writers at the The Herald should enlighten us on how a machinery “almost goes hysterical.
In any event, entertaining stuff. Pity one cannot believe a word of it.
UPDATE: My previous figures taken from The Guardian and Mail & Guardian sites were wrong and the Herald was actually correct. Here is a table with the final House of Assembly results:
But, really what is going to happen to the farms that were given to black Zimbabwean? How is the ‘British state machinery’ going to influence the ‘new’ Zimbabwe leadership?
Prof – according to http://www.zimonline.co.za, the oficial tally is: MDC (Tsv) 99 seats; Zanu PF 97 seats (1 seat was won uncontested); MDC (Mut) 10 seats; Independent 1 seat. We must remember that 3 of the 210 seats were not contested as some of the candidates died or were disqualified before the vote took place, and elections still have to be held in those constituencies. I do not know how accurate the UK’s Guardian is in its report that Zanu PF had only won 94 seats. Nevertheless, I agree, the Herald provides for quite interesting reading in these troubled times – conflicting reports however have it that Bob is still contemplating a number of otions, namely: admitting defeat (and exile or retirement); declaring the vote null and void (and remaining in power – with a slight reshuffle in the Politburo); forcing a run-off (with an attempt to rig the results); or leading a coup d’etat (rumours have it that some generals might lead a coup with or without Bob’s blessing). In the mean time, land-lines and cell phone signals have (due to overload) crashed in Zim, making it very difficult to get some news on what is happening officially. I hope and pray that the first of the above options will be the one happening, and that everything will be over by the weekend.
I don’t know whether the following report could be trusted http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/Zimbabwe/0,,2-11-1662_2299130,00.html
How is this for total rubbish:
“In terms of strategy, we only applied 25% of our energy into this campaign … That [the run-off] is when we are going to unleash the other 75% that we did not apply in the first case.” – Zimbabwe (former) Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga
Khosi – I have also just read that remark, and I agree, total rubbish. Is the 75% power that ‘Bright’ (he doesn’t seem that bright) speaks of perhaps the ability to rig the outcome of a presidential run-off? Actually, I’m more scared that Bob Mugabe and/or his army and police forces might declare a military take-over.
Prof – thanks for the update. I have just read that Mugabe has made his first (brief) public appearance when he met with Siera Leone’s head of state (heading the African Union Deputation of observers); and, that he appeared ‘relaxed’, although he did not make any comment on the probable outcome of the presidential election. Might he still have an Ace up his sleeve?
Here is the link to the article I have just referred to http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/Zimbabwe/0,,2-11-1662_2299411,00.html
It is actually the former president of Siera Leone, and not the reigning one that is heading the AU’s mission of observers. Further interesting reading are the links to Robert Mugabe’s CV as opposed to that of Morgan Tsvangirai as supplied in that article. Can we really trust that Bob Mugabe has attained that many degrees (not honorary ones, mind you), especially those in law at UNISA? I seriously doubt it.
The latest I’ve heard that Mugabe is looking forward to a runoff. But say he becomes president yet again: how will he govern when the opposition holds the majority of the parliamentary seats?
Clara – as I understand it, the President of Zimbabwe, although havving a minority of support in Parliament (House of Assembly, not necessarily the Senate) may appoint his own Politburo (cabinet) through which he can govern – and the executive has much stronger powers than the legislature. Otherwise, he may still use the military forces to oust the legislative arm of government as it were.
Fascinating, anon! Thanks for the enlightenment. One shudders to think of the military option. Some say this will result in Western intervention, but I’m not so sure! One thing’s for sure, though: South Africa will, as usual, continue with ‘quiet diplomacy’.
I hope that not all this is true, except for a possible UN SC involvement if the run-off is postponed and called off and military involvement (which has started) continues. Read the article and decide for yourself. http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/Zimbabwe/0,,2-11-1662_2299749,00.html
In addition to my post yesterday as to how Mugabe would be able to govern while he lost the parliamentary vote, the following: Of the 93 Senators, only 60 are elected, the rest are appointed by the President. Before Thabo Mbeki’s involvement, the President could also create 30 more seats in Parliament so as to atain a clear majority, but that was changed. However, Mugabe can still change that again through presidential decree. He is also able to change the date of the run-off from 21 days to 90 days through presidential decree, which would give him time to clamp down on the opposition and to mobilize more support from the so-called ‘new farmers’ who have benefited from his land reform policy for more support (about 350,000 voters). Will a run-off be necessary? Tsvangirai appears hopeful to have gotten 50,3% of the presidential votes, compared to Mugabe’s 43%. According to the final parliamentary tally, Zanu PF won the populistic vote with 1,110,649 votes to MDC (Tsv)’s 1,036,696, with MDC (Mut) drawing 206,739 and the Independents 67,889. One wonders, therefore, how many voters that voted for Zanu PF would have voted for Mugabe; how many of the MDC (Mut) faction would have voted for Tsvangirai; and, how many voters who voted for independents, would have voted for the third presidential candidate, Simba. That is, if the oficial results could be trusted. Is this time for dread and gloom, or for jubilation?
Being a ‘human rights freak’, with first hand knowledge of human right attrocities in Zim, I cannot but help to keep on posting some new ‘disconcerting’ developments: http://www.zimonline.co.za/Article.aspx?ArticleId=2991
How’s this for entertainment from across the Limpopo? http://www.news24.com/News24/Africa/Zimbabwe/0,,2-11-1662_2300534,00.html
Zim is nothing but a ‘Banana Republic’! Has anyone noticed Bob Mugabe’s likeness of face with that of Adolf Hitler? (Except for the skin colour, that is.)