Voting started on July 31 in Zimbabwe’s election as Robert Mugabe bids to extend his 33-year-rule amid suspicions that the poll will be rigged in his favour. Zimbabwe’s new constitution, which will henceforth limit the number of consecutive terms a president may spend in office, means that the 89-year-old will be competing in his last election.
Mr Mugabe has said he will stand down as president if he loses and claims the army will respect any victory for his main rival, Morgan Tsvangirai. But many have dismissed the president’s words and Mr Tsvangirai himself has said he takes the promise “with a pinch of salt”.
Fresh suspicions of vote rigging were sparked by a Research and Advocacy Unit study which said the electoral roll includes one million dead voters or people who have emigrated.
Voters appear keen to have their say, with some queuing up wrapped in blankets four hours before polling stations opened. Several hundred people waited to vote in green tents in Mbare, the oldest township in the capital, Harare.
Zimbabwe’s economic problems have seen millions leave the country to find work in recent years. Hyperinflation reached 231,000,000% five years ago but a scarcity of US dollars – now the country’s main currency – means the economy has stabilised and inflation is back in single digits.
Violence marred the last election in 2008, with Morgan Tsvangirai pulling out of a second round run-off against Mr Mugabe after 200 of his supporters were killed.
The African Union and the The Southern African Development Community have both sent observers to monitor this year’s elections. However, there are still worries that violence and intimidation could be used.
“We are very worried that if the result does not go Robert Mugabe’s way we could see a return to the violence that marred the 2008 election,” said Tiseke Kasambala, Southern Africa Director for Human Rights Watch.
She said on Sky News: “The heads of his security forces have made clear that they are not going to accept a victory by the opposition or by Morgan Tsvangirai.”
Tsvangirai has based his latest campaign on a plan to lure back foreign investors, create a million jobs in five years and improve public services. Casting his vote in Harare, he predicted his MDF party would win “quite resoundingly” and called it a “historic moment”.
Mr Mugabe has focused his promises on expanding the redistribution of wealth to poor black Zimbabweans, as well as making threats of violence against homosexuals.
Some 6.4 million people are eligible to vote before polling stations close at 7pm local time today, Wednesday. Final results are expected in about five days.
