Mugabe,Tsvangirai head to presidential polls as world watches closely

 

Robert Mugabe 

By Mkinga Mkinga  

In Summary

• Tanzania, being the chair of the Sadc organ on politics, defence and security cooperation, is satisfied with the electoral process so far.

Harare. Zimbabwe is set for the its general elections today as the whole world is watching. At the same time the Southern African Development Community is taking a front observation mission here.

Four presidential candidates mega shots will be seen in the ballot papers leaving alone the Members of Parliament and Ward councillors. Candidates eying statesmanship are the incumbent Robert Mugabe (ZANU-PF), Morgan Tsvangirai (MDC-T), Dumiso Debengwa (Zapu) and Welshman Ncube (MDC).

However, tough competition pits the two opponents, President Robert Mugabe and his Prime Minister, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai. In the 2008 elections Tsvangirai emerged winner although he did not get 50 per cent and, therefore, there was a runoff which he rejected due to violence and President Mugabe went unopposed.

Tanzania, being the chair of the Sadc organ on politics, defence and security cooperation, is satisfied with the electoral process so far.

Speaking to The Citizen, Sadc head election observers mission, Tanzania’s Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation minister Bernard Membe said Zimbabwe is well prepared.

He said 6.4 million Zimbabweans will exercise their democratic right today and that they hope the elections will be free, fair and transparent and people will restrain themselves from turning violent.

As Sadc has been advocating for free and fair elections already the main oppositions MDC-T have been complaining on the voters role (permanent voters register) that as they going to elections ZEC has not issued a country’s voters role.

Speaking to stakeholders in Harare, Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) chairman Justice Rita Makarau said the voters’ roll would be available only in hard copy from the registrar general’s office, as opposition political parties complained about the unavailability of the information two days before national elections.

Under Zimbabwe’s electoral laws, the political parties are entitled to have the voters’ roll, which is said to have 6.4 million voters who will take part in the poll the highest voter turnout since the country’s independence in 1980.

“Copies of the voters’ roll can now be obtained from the registrar-general’s office in hard copy, but electronic copies cannot be obtained,” Justice Makarau said

Adding that “Each polling station will now have a copy of the voters’ roll. Due to logistical problems we can’t issue electronic copies of the voters’ roll.”

In 2008 elections MDC-T won 100 seats while Zanu-PF had 99 seats. The opposition has a good command in most of the urban areas while the ruling Zanu-PF is also having a command in rural areas and some parts of urban areas.