Zim: MDC looking strong
2005-04-01 07:22
Harare - Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) made a strong showing in early results from elections on Friday, taking 17 out of 19 seats, the electoral commission said.
The MDC won seats in its urban strongholds of Harare and Zimbabwe's second city of Bulawayo while President Robert Mugabe's ruling Zanu-PF took two seats in Mashonaland in the north and Marondera in the east where it is traditionally popular.
Turnout was on average below 50%, said chief elections officer Lovemore Sekeramai.
About 5.8 million voters cast ballots on Thursday for 120 contested seats in parliament in elections that were peaceful, in strong contrast to the two past elections when scores were killed and beaten in political violence.
Among those elected was Mugabe's nephew Patrick Zhuwawo while two senior MDC party members, Gibson Sibanda and Innocent Gonese retained their seats.
In the last parliamentary vote in 2000, the MDC picked up 57 seats while Zanu-PF got 62, but under Zimbabwe law, the president directly appoints 30 members of parliament, meaning that the ruling party was able to command a strong majority in parliament.
To win in this election, the MDC would have to gain 76 seats compared to only 46 for Zanu-PF, which can again rely on presidential appointments to pad its majority in parliament.
'Free and fair'
Mugabe, in power since Zimbabwe's independence in 1980, dismissed opposition concerns of election fraud as "nonsense" after he cast his ballot at a Harare township community hall, adding that he was "absolutely confident" of winning a two-thirds majority for his Zanu-PF.
"Everybody is seeing that these are free and fair elections," said Mugabe, who turned up at a polling station at a Highfield township community hall accompanied by his wife Grace and young son Chatunga.
But MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai dismissed the vote as unfair. "This is not going to be a free and fair election."
Turnout was overall weak at between 30 and 40%, electoral officials said.
Whatever the outcome, Zimbabweans have been relieved that the elections were free of the bloodshed that marred polls in 2000 and 2002 that left about 100 dead and many more beaten, mostly opposition supporters who were attacked by Zanu-PF youth militias.
"This time we are voting freely," said Comfort Size, a firewood vendor who stood outside a polling station in Harare's oldest township of Mbare.
"The process is peaceful. It's quiet. No one has been beaten as far as I know," said Maphios Mbonesi, a security guard who also described himself as a farmer.
After the closing of polls, police rounded up and detained about 200 women who had gathered in Harare's main square for an all-night prayer vigil for "divine intervention" as they waited for the first results to trickle in.
- AFP