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Zimbabwe Election Results Through
Finally released Tsvangirai 47.9, Mugabe 43.2. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7380445.stm
Looks like it will be the same outcome as last time.
Looks like it will be the same outcome as last time.
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Comments
I can't blame Tsvangirai, there is only ever going to be one result and that's a win for Mugabe and lots of MDC members and supporters losing their lives.
I shouldn't make light of an awful situation, but I do think that Tsvangirai should take part in the run-off, as not taking part would had the election to Mugabe.
The MDC's own results say he won 50.3% of the vote. Given standard margins of eror, and the clandestine way the results were collected, it is possible he got under 50%.
Hopefully the runoff will go ahead, and the international community will pressure the SADC and, in particular, South Africa, to ensure free and fair elections, and, hopefully, a change of government.
It's pretty easy for someone to find out the results before the ZEC announced. Once polling has closed each polling station has to post the results on the wall outside for all to see. All the MDC had to do was have a representative at each polling station to note down the results. So unless the MDC are flat out lying then their numbers of 50.3% are likely to be accurate.
The problem with Tsvangirai taking part in a run off is it's giving legitimacy to the whole thing. Even if by some miracle they let him win I can't see Mugabe letting go that easily.
Plus Tsvangirai is in exile in South Africa at the moment. If he returns to Zimbabwe at the moment I'd say his chances of living are 50/50.
First of all, I'd like to point out I want Mugabe out as much as everyone else.
However, having someone ring results through to a national database isn't an entirely accurate way of doing things. I'm not accusing the MDC of lying, rather that their 0.3% over the necessary threshold is a bit close to the edge to actually claim victory given the way they collected their results.
Tsvangirai taking part does give the process legitimacy. However, to my mind, not taking part just gives Mugabe the legitimate right to crow about how he was unnopposed in the runoff election, and therefore wins by default.
The MDCs tactics ought to be to fight Mugabe at every opportunity, not to just sulk off when they are seemingly better supported than ever before.
Losing a second national vote would just put even more pressure on Mugabe, and the international community.
There might be several good reasons why Tsvangirai might decide not to stand in a run-off.
1. A re-run might be fixed for Mugabe in some manner of means, so no point in wasting time and resources on it.
2. Voter intimidation could lead to many deaths, with MDC supporters bearing the brunt.
3. The MDC now controls parliament. It can therefore, hopefully, moderate the President's more extreme actions (although personally, I doubt it).
4. It could well be an embarrasment to "the old man" to win power this way when everyone knows he lost the first round of voting. He might even withdraw himself in that situation (again doubtful, but he is a proud man).
LOL:D
Perhaps the reason we still don't know the result of the London Mayor election is that the counting has been subcontracted to the Zimbabwe electoral Commission!:D