Posted on 04/07/2008 5:01:50 PM PDT by vikingd00d
Zimbabwean police have arrested seven election officials for undercounting votes cast for Robert Mugabe in the Presidential election.
"We're still investigating, but we have established that there was deflation of figures in respect of one candidate ... the ZANU-PF presidential candidate (Mr Mugabe)," said Wayne Bvudzijena, a police spokesman.
Those arrested,who were working for the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission in four provinces, will be charged with fraud.
As the results of the election remain unannounced, speculation is mounting that Mr Mugabe is planning a strategy to overcome a majority won by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).
Mr Mugabe this morning demanded a recount, with his opponents fearing he will secure and then rig a runoff election.
His Zanu-PF party has also reverted to familiar tactics by unleashing its militias on some of the last remaining white-owned farms.
Veterans of the war against white rule, who will play a central role in Mr Mugabe's strategy to win a fifth term, invaded eight farms yesterday.
Their actions followed a silent but menacing march through the capital, Harare, on Friday. It suggests they have been mobilised to help Zanu-PF cling to power.
With a presidential result still unannounced a week after the election, the MDC asked the High Court in Harare to rule on a petition demanding the immediate release of the results.
Zanu-PF countered by attempting to stymie the legal action with its own demands.
The party said it wanted the Electoral Commission to "recount and audit all its electoral material relating to last week's presidential election following revelations of errors and miscalculations in the compilation of the poll result".
It added that the commission should "defer the announcement of the presidential election result".
The MDC spokesman, Tendai Biti, said the request was "madness". He said: "Legally they have no right to ask for a recount, they have absolutely no footing to ask for a recount, so what they are trying to do is illegal."
Under the Electoral Act, a second round must take place by April 19. But if the announcement of the result continues to be delayed, Mr Mugabe may have an excuse to delay the run-off.
The MDC, which secured a majority in parliament's lower house, has been officially announced the winner in half of the Senate's elected seats.
Because Mr Mugabe appoints six senators, Zanu-PF will still have a narrow majority in the upper house.
Maybe we need a return of Ian Smith.
I guess this makes it official. Mugabe will use the police and army to steal the election and stay in power. He’s nothing but a thuggish dictator.
No Farms Left.
” The Clinton campaign is probably taking notes on all of this... “
No. they’re giving the notes.
for undercounting votes cast for Robert Mugabeanother "you've gotta be kiddin'" ping.
Mugabe has learned from his hero, Joe Stalin, “It’s not who votes, it who counts the votes.”
How about we send them 100 million in “aid” to figure this all out? That’s SOP, right? Hell, throw in some guns, too.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/1998193/posts?page=8#8
Fears rise with violence in Zimbabwe
LA Times via Zimbabwesituation.com | 4-7-08 | Staff writer
Posted on 04/07/2008 3:10:12 PM PDT by dynachrome
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1998136/posts
Mugabe militants target whites farmers
(forcing about a dozen ranchers and farmers off their land)
AP on Yahoo | 4/7/08 | Angus Shaw - ap
Posted on 04/07/2008 2:59:49 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1998130/posts
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
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