Impunity Watch: Africa: Zimbabwe's Ruling Party Loses Majority in Parliament; Presidential Election Results Delayed

By: Julie K. Narimatsu
Impunity Watch Managing Editor - Journal

HARARE, Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe's Electoral Commission (ZEC) released the election results of the lower house of parliament on Wednesday, which, while not final, indicated that opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and other opposition parties will claim a majority of the 210 seats. ZEC announced that the results for the Senate would be forthcoming and those for the disputed presidential election would not be released until Friday, sparking much suspicion and doubt about the legitimacy of the results. Rumors that the two major parties were negotiating a hand-over of power have been rejected by MDC, despite initial reports from MDC to the BBC that they had reached an agreement.

Rather, in the past few days, MDC has been claiming that they have won the presidential elections outright. According to MDC Secretary-General, Tendai Biti, MDC results show that MDC candidate, Tsvangirai, won 50.3 percent to Mugabe's 43.8 percent of the 2.3 million votes cast. The other opposition candidate, Makoni, received 7 percent. This, however, inexplicably, adds up to more than 100 percent.

The information minister in Mugabe's administration has condemned these statements, claiming that MDC is trying to create “mayhem and panic.” He further accused MDC of announcing their victory in order to create the idea that the elections are rigged if the official results ultimately indicate that Mugabe has won, claiming that this was what happened in Kenya. Aides in the Mugabe administration have warned that the opposition should use caution in its statements and activities, as it could be punished for what would be regarded as a coup attempt on the current regime.

Both Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and Zimbabwe's state-run newspaper has conceded that Mugabe did not receive a majority for the first time since Mugabe took office in 1980. The newspaper reported that there will be a run-off to determine the next president - no one candidate has over 50 percent of the vote, as required by the rules. According to Biti, MDC will participate in a run-off, but only “under protest.” He predicted that any run-off would only result in a more “embarrassing margin in favor of the opposition.”

The current administration has attributed the delay of releasing results to the logistical difficulties in holding four different elections in the same day. Despite outcry, they said this delay is completely legal, referencing rules stating that results should be announced within six days. MDC candidate, David Chimhini, blamed the lack of preparation for the elections on the country's severe economic problems, asserting that the election created even more shortages of fuel, food, and energy, perpetuating an already grave situation. He also noted the lack of paper ballots and cautioned that the country may not have the capacity to hold another election. He stated, “[T]he economic crisis . . ., that has made so many people fervently wish for leadership change, has managed to throw its own spanners into the very process that would bring about the much desired change in our fortunes.”

According to Agence France-Presse, diplomats have been meeting with Mugabe to persuade him to concede the election. Several African leaders have been in contact with the leader, who has not been seen in public since election day, and have expressed a desire to avoid a conflict like the one the Kenyans experienced late last year. With the Kenya crisis fresh on everyone's minds, there are increasing fears of tension and violence in the wake of the results, no matter who is announced the winner. Increased police forces are present in the major cities, with roadblocks set up in Harare, the nation's capital. The world awaits Friday, when the final results are expected to be released, in hopes of a peaceful resolution to this situation.

For more information, please see:

CNN.com - Commission: Mugabe's party loses grip on parliament - 2 April 2008

Reuters.com - Mugabe loses control of Zimbabwe parliament - 2 April 2008

IRIN Africa - ZIMBABWE: Mugabe loses control of parliament - 2 April 2008

IRIN Africa - ZIMBABWE: Recession slows election results - 2 April 2008

Allafrica.com - Zimbabwe: Opposition Claims Outright Election Victory - 2 April 2008

AfricaNews - Zimbabwe: More top officials lose seats - 2 April 2008

BBC News - Zimbabwe opposition claim victory - 2 April 2008

Agence France-Presse - Zimbabwe opposition claims victory over Mugabe - 2 April 2008

Impunity Watch - Zimbabwe Presidential Election Results Unannounced as Rumors Abound - 1 April 2008

Impunity Watch - More Allegations of Election Tampering in Zimbabwe; Israeli Intelligence May Be Involve - 30 March 2008

Impunity Watch - Zimbabwe Government Refuses to Allow Certain Media to Cover March 29 Elections - 26 March 2008