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Zimbabwe poll officials detained
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by Amy Judd | April 7, 2008 at 08:59 pm
729 views | 29 Recommendations | 21 comments
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Mugabe is just not going to go quietly.
Police said the election officials have been charged with fraud and criminal abuse of duty, accused of taking nearly 5,000 votes away from Mr Mugabe.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon joined international calls for the urgent release of the results.
The opposition MDC is seeking a court ruling to force publication of results.
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) says its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, won the election by a clear majority.
But Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF is seeking a recount.
On Monday a High Court judge dismissed the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission's (ZEC) argument that his court did not have jurisdiction and set the case for Tuesday.
The judge said he would decide whether to treat it as an urgent case, before hearing the actual arguments.
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Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (21)
at 22:38 on April 7th, 2008
This may sound odd but I was really excited at the prospect of Mugabe losing power. During my time as an undergrad I wrote a paper about Zimbabwe and learnt that at one time it was the "bread basket" of Africa and I discovered that Mugabe single handedly destroyed their economy. To tell you the truth, I was gleeful at the thought of his political demise.
Obviously that glee was premature and, unfortunately, very naive. He's not going anywhere and no one else, especially the UN, is going to do anything about it. Zimbabwe is one of the most stark case studies in economic mismanagement I've ever come across. Too bad this tin pot has not met his end yet.
at 22:44 on April 7th, 2008
I was also very excited at the prospect of Mugabe going away and giving Zimbabwe the chance to grow and prosper once again. However, it seems that Mugabe is never going to really go away and will just keep fighting until there is no choice but to let him back into power.
I realize this is a dark outlook, and I hope I am wrong, but the outlook is dark for Zimbabwe right now and this can't help but cross my mind.
at 04:06 on April 8th, 2008
amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff. I am not surprised at the actions of Mugabe. According to the IHT [International Herald Tribune], Barry Bearak of the New York Times was released on bail but to a hospital after sustaining falls in the floor of his prison cell. This was according to a declaration by his lawyer Harrison Nkomo. Dileepan Sivapathasundaram of the National Democracy Institute [and a US Citizen] has been released to US Diplomatic Custody although he has to report to the police on a daily basis. I agree that Mugabe is not going to go soon but if the news were to completly vanish from the front pages, Mugabe will get away with murder, robbery, and thuggery. It will not help if then the country implodes.
As already mentioned in a separate article, even the opposition inside South Africa has criticized South African President Mbeki for being "naive or distorting on purpose the reality in Zimbabwe"
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04/08/africa/08bearak.php
at 08:31 on April 8th, 2008
amyjudd, why am I not surprized?
at 09:45 on April 8th, 2008
amyjudd: I have just received more information in which the Zimbabwe High Court has decided to hear the case of releasing the Presidential Election Results presented by the MDC. This news comes against the backdrop of militias and ZANU-PF supporters rearming. Up to 100 opposition supporters have been assaulted in different areas of Zimbabwe and 60 farmers have fled their homes. While this is the actual reaction of Mugabe and is not surprising, it is important that there is publicity about what is happening.
SOURCE:
BBC News: "Huge Violence in Zimbabwe Poll"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7336372.stm
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Vinnyat 10:06 on April 8th, 2008
From The Movement for Democratic Change:
Source: ireland.com
at 10:06 on April 8th, 2008
amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff.
at 11:03 on April 8th, 2008
The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union wants to protest but states that they are afraid that Mugabe will impose martial law. The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions has met with the Congress of South African Trade Union [COSATU] and the Federation of Unions of South Africa [FEDUSA] to discuss the situation in Zimbabwe. COSATU condemned the attitude of the government of South Africa while FEDUSA has urged calm. I wander if FEDUSA would say the same thing if FIFA [The International Football [Soccer] Body] were to change the venue of the 2010 World Cup.
In other developments, Mr. Tendai Biti [Secretary General of the MDC] has asked African States to intervene before “there are dead bodies in Harare”. Mr. Biti has expressed his fear that Mugabe could declare a state of martial law using the assaults created by his followers as a pretext. I was hoping for a peaceful resolution but my worst fears are being realized and it is not surprising. Mugabe and people like him are [in the majority] of a totalitarian bent with the concept of “Me, Me, and I”.
SOURCE:
SABC News.com: “Zimbabwe Trade Union stunned by Election Impasse”
http://www.sabcnews.com/africa/southern_africa/0,2172,167311,00.html
SABC News.com: “Zimbabwe’s Opposition Warns of Bloodshed”
http://www.sabcnews.com/africa/southern_africa/0,2172,167301,00.html
at 11:46 on April 8th, 2008
amyjudd, I like this story. It's good stuff. I bet a lot of people wind up arrested or worse for "not counting votes correctly" (i.e. for the despot) or other trumped-up charges.
He'll put the country through a blood bath before he goes.
at 04:30 on April 9th, 2008
I agree with PEP's assessment about Mugabe. About One Hour ago, CNN announced that the International Community has exerted pressure on Mugabe to release the Presidential Results. At the same time, Jacob Zuma [head of the African National Congress the governing party in South Africa] has contradicted South African President Mbeki by criticizing the delay in the release of the Presidential Poll Results in Zimbabwe. Mr. Zuma already had conversations with the President of Botswana Seretse Khama Ian Khama concerning the Zimbabwe Situation. Mr. Zuma is also expected to meet with Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa and Mozambican President Armando Guebuza during his visit to both countries to discuss the Zimbabwe Crisis. Mr. Zuma also met with Morgan Tsvangerai of the Opposition MDC [Movement for Democratic Change] when during Mr. Tsvangerai's visit to Johannesburg. While this has been welcome news, it is better to exercise caution but maintain the momentum to keep Zimbabwe as front page news.
SOURCE:
CNN News: "Pressure Mounts On Mugabe To Release Poll Results"
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/04/09/zimbabwe.election.ap/index.html?eref=rss_latest
BBC News: "Zuma Condemns Zimbabwe Poll Delay"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7337986.stm
at 07:08 on April 9th, 2008
Just to inform Now Public.com: I wrote a letter to Univision asking them to inform Latin America the truth about Mugabe and his intentions of staying in power.
at 07:34 on April 9th, 2008
Good job, Alvarez! :)
at 07:17 on April 9th, 2008
According to the BBC News Website, President Levi Mwanawasa of Zambia has called for an Emergency Meeting of the Southern Africa Development Community with the intention of finding a solution to the impasse of Zimbabwean Presidential Elections. The meeting will start on Saturday the 12th of April 2008. EU President Jose Manuel Barroso has said that the votes of the people of Zimbabwe "must count and that the people want change".
SOURCE:
BBC News: "Zimbabwe Emergency Talks Called"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7338925.stm
at 09:58 on April 9th, 2008
Great job on the updates everyone! I love teamwork like this!
at 10:02 on April 9th, 2008
Thanks PEP and amyjudd for your comments, this is going to continue since Zimbabwe and Mugabe should be front page news for their atrocities. If there are any more updates, I will gladly add them to Now Public.com
at 10:10 on April 9th, 2008
Great!
at 14:23 on April 9th, 2008
According to SABC News: Zimbabwe's High Court is expected to make a decision on Monday the 13th of April 2008 concerning the immediate release of the Presidential Results. This is going to give Mugabe more time to rearm his militias.
SOURCE:
SABC News: "Zimbabwe's High Court To Make Ruling on Monday"
http://www.sabcnews.com/africa/southern_africa/0,2172,167383,00.html
I am not waiting for Univision's reply. I have decided to write add a Spanish Language Version of the events in Zimbabwe in a blog. The reason is not only for the Latin Community in the USA, it is also directed at Latin America and Spain.
at 04:15 on April 10th, 2008
According to the BBC News Website, Mugabe has expressed an interest in attending the SADC [Southern African Development Community] meeting. Mike Mulongoti [who is the Minister of Information for Zambia] responded by saying "Mugabe's presence would not necessarily be helpful. I think the SADC Heads would rather meet to consult on their own without the presence of the people involved in Zimbabwe itself". In a separate development, ZANU-PF [Mugabe] wants a recount of 21 instead of 16 constituencies. There is the personal feeling that SADC has either seen through Mugabe, considers him a liability, or the fear among the SADC members that what happens in Zimbabwe could spill over into their borders. Regardless, Mugabe is still attempting to find ways to cling to power.
SOURCE:
BBC News: "Mugabe To Attend Emergency Talks"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7340476.stm
at 08:20 on April 10th, 2008
Mugabe and Tsvangerai will be attending the SADC Summit on the 12th of April 2008. Meanwhile, Tsvangerai is in Botswana on a mission of asking for assistance. Meanwhile in Harare, MDC Secretary Tendai Biti labelled Mugabe as a "Snake attempting a Constitutional Coup D' Etat". Mr. Biti also stated that the MDC "won the elections with 50.3%, there will be no second round elections, and Mugabe is just a caretaker President waiting for the next President to be appointed". The FAO [Food and Agricultural Administration] classified the food situation in Zimbabwe as critical. Mugabe could just simply leave but his desire to remain in power for life is strong.
SOURCE
BBC News: "Zimbabwe Rivals To Attend Summit"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7340476.stm
at 04:23 on April 11th, 2008
According to BBC, Morgan Tsvangarai of the opposition MDC has met with the President of South Africa Mbeki. According to the MDC Spokesperson Nqobizitha Mlillo, the meeting "went well" and has expressed a "cautious optimism". This appears to get more interesting.
SOURCE:
BBC News: "Mugabe Rival Meets SA President"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7342127.stm
at 04:40 on April 11th, 2008
Reuters has announced that the Government of Zimbabwe doubts Mugabe will attend SADC Summit since the summit was convened without notifying him.
Reuters: “Zimbabwe Raises Doubt on Mugabe Attending Summit”
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSL0457212820080411?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews