Millions of "Extra" Ballots Ahead of Zimbabwe Vote

by Jordan Yerman | March 23, 2008 at 11:55 am

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The MDC (Zimbabwe's primary opposition group) is calling the discovery of double the number of ballots needed for the voting population a smoking gun, citing the find as proof that President Robert Mugabe has no intention of staging a fair election.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says leaked documents show nine million papers have been ordered for the country's 5.9 million voters.

But, the head of the electoral commission rejected suggestions that the extra papers might be misused.

Judge George Chiwese told the BBC that the vote would be free and fair.

President Robert Mugabe made a defiant campaign speech on Saturday a week ahead of perhaps his toughest election battle, saying Zimbabwe's main opposition party will never rule during his lifetime.

Mugabe (84), the only head of state Zimbabwe has known since independence in 1980, also threatened to expel companies from former colonial ruler Britain after the March 29 polls.

Such talk cannot be discoutned as mere electioneering when it comes from a man who has held power through force for 28 years.Mugabe is facing a crushed economy, rampant poverty and widespread corruption, and he has little incentive to fight fair: the international community has done little to support the MDC or any who seek change in beleaguered Zimbabwe.