Zimbabwe mood grows dark
04/04/2008 14:41  - (SA)  

Mugabe 'plotting to rule illegally' All eyes on Zanu-PF meeting Mugabe begins Zim crackdown NYT journo arrested in Zim Zim senate results coming in

Zimbabwe Special Report  Latest Zimbabwe Stories

Verashni Pillay

Harare - The hopeful mood in Zimbabwe has turned to one of growing fear on Friday with the strong possibility of a run-off presidential election between the ruling Zanu-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

Zanu-PF's politburo was meeting on Friday morning to discuss the possibility of a run-off election for the presidential post, and the party's defeat in the 210-seat House of Assembly.

Celebrations at the potential change the defeat signified have been muted as Zimbabweans tensely awaited the official result of the presidential poll, which will determine who will lead the country.

Unofficial estimates show the results may well be close enough to warrant a run-off between President Robert Mugabe and opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai.

"A run-off will be disastrous as there is likely to be violence," Mike Davies, Chairperson of the Combined Harare Residents Association told News24 on Friday. "Mugabe will have a very detailed pattern of voting preferences based on ward results and will be able to direct his forces with precision."

Used to violence

Past elections have been marred by allegations of violence and intimidation.

While the elections in Zimbabwe on Saturday and the subsequent snail-pace vote count were largely violence-free, the mood has become tense after the arrest of two New York Times correspondents on Thursday evening.

Davies, whose family has fled Zimbabwe, said that Zimbabweans were feeling increasingly uneasy. "They suspect that the regime is attempting to rig the results," he said.

Before the controversial arrest of the journalists Zimbabweans had expressed their cautious but growing hope that a change of government was on it's way. "We are very excited," Cecilia Masekereya, a township resident told News24 on Thursday. "We are hoping this time will be different."

But amidst accusations by the MDC that Mugabe was plotting to rule illegally until the run-off election, Zimbabwean citizens were growing anxious.

"Zimbabweans are a hopeful people but they realise that Mugabe is not just going to accept the results," said Davies.

 

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