Election recount allows Mugabe to step up violence, says opposition

The stitch up that is taking place in Zimbabwe as we speak, and the acquiescence in that stitch up by other African nations is little short of disgraceful. The"recount" of the votes is bound to reverse just enough seats to give Mugabe power; and his thugs are currently moving through opposition areas threatening people and attempting to ensure that the rerun of the presidential election, which Mugabe lost, will not produce a result as decisive as the last one was, and will be close enough to make the vote rigging at least plausible, if not actually believable.

It's simply extraordinary that Mbeki is lending credence to this crap. We all knew he was weak but, in these circumstances, he has actually excelled himself.

The opposition yesterday accused the police of protecting armed gangs who are severely beating its supporters and burning some of them from their homes.

The high court in Harare is expected to rule today on an MDC petition demanding the immediate release of the final count of the presidential poll, and the opposition has called a general strike from tomorrow to back its demand.

The MDC plans to go back to court to block the Zimbabwe electoral commission (ZEC) from holding recounts next Saturday in 23 constituencies, all but one of them lost by Zanu-PF to the MDC as Mugabe's party lost control of parliament for the first time since independence 28 years ago.

The overturning of the opposition's victories in nine constituencies will be sufficient for Zanu-PF to take back parliament. The recounts would also affect the outcome of the presidential election which the opposition candidate, Morgan Tsvangirai, claims to have won outright on the basis of his party's tally of returns posted at individual polling stations. The MDC accuses the government of trying to ensure that the official results give Tsvangirai less than 50% of the vote so as to force a run-off election against Mugabe.

The MDC spokesman, Nelson Chamisa, said the government has had more than a fortnight to tamper with ballot boxes under the control of the ZEC.

"We will not accept any recount because for us that is accepting rigged results. The ZEC are in custody of the ballot boxes for two weeks and heavens know what they have done to the ballot papers. They might have stuffed them with their votes," he said. "We've won this election and we're ready to form the next government."

I mean what do people seriously think Mugabe and his henchmen have been doing with those ballot boxes for the past fortnight? The Zambian summit has appeared to bend over backwards not to offend Mugabe, calling for the results to be released "expeditiously" rather than calling on Mugabe to accept the will of his electorate.

But opposition leaders were disappointed that the region's leaders did not put more pressure on Mugabe to recognise defeat. The MDC's general secretary, Tendai Biti, said it appeared they are trying to "seduce" his party into participating in a run-off election which he has rejected because of rising violence.

Mbekei's policy of quiet diplomacy towards Mugabe has been shown to be the utter failure that many predicted it would be. Indeed, I would go as far as to say that Mugabe has damaged Mbeki's reputation forever and that his legacy will be seen as cowardly and weak because of his almost constant wish to appease this old tyrant.

And, of course, it is ordinary Zimbabweans who suffer the consequences of Mbeki and the other African leaders cowardice, as Mugabe sends his war veterans amongst the people.

The MDC said the delays are allowing Zanu-PF to pursue a campaign of violent intimidation against opposition supporters ahead of any run-off vote. Much of it is concentrated in rural areas, such as Mashonaland, where there was a significant swing away from the ruling party.

Abel Samakande, an MDC parliamentary candidate in the region, said there is an organised assault against people there. "People are being beaten. It's Zanu-PF. The police are defending them. They're burning properties, houses. They're trying to burn my car and kill me so I'm in Harare at the moment. I brought some wounded people here. But I have to go back for my wife," he said.

How can Mbeki and the others assist this man to, once again, overthrow the wishes of ordinary Zimbabweans? Why are they so afraid of challenging him?

Click title for full article.