Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe counting votes

afrol News, 12 March - While the High Court rejected an application to extend the poll for a fourth day, giving the thousands of voters that yesterday were chased away from the polling stations a chance to vote, the counting of the votes have started all over Zimbabwe. The opposition already concludes the presidential elections were not fair.

Yesterday, voters in Harare Province (cities of Harare and Chitungwiza) were supposed to enjoy a third day of polling, according to a High Court order and an announcement by the Minister of Justice, Patrick Chinamasa. These strongholds of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai were however widely hindered from finishing the poll. Thousands of voters queuing at several Harare poll stations were violently dispersed by police.

While Harare polling stations were expected to open at 7am yesterday, most were still not open at noon. During the day, voters were prevented from voting at several stations when the police dispersed them using teargas, after the government ordered that the polling stop. The Zimbabwean 'Daily News' even reports about the Minister of Youth Development, Elliot Manyika, reportedly driving around polling stations in Chitungwiza in a convoy of vehicles, "ordering the police to harass residents queued up to vote."

The opposition party Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) thus concluded the government had been in contempt of Sunday's High Court order by Justice Ben Hlatshwayo to continue voting for one more day. The Judge President of the High Court, Paddington Garwe, last night however disagreed in MDC's claim and refused to extend the voting period by yet another day. Garwe said he had no jurisdiction as the Registrar-General and the National Election Directorate were responsible for administering polls.

Tsvangirai already has complained the poll was neither free nor fair and says he will challenge the results, if negative or him, in court. If Mugabe was to win by a small margin, the poll in Harare, where Tsvangirai has overwhelming support, certainly could have changed the final results. The MDC leader also repeated his indications there could be a popular rising after the electorate had not been respected. The party warned of a possible "expression of anger" in Harare. 

International protests against the organisation of the elections have also started mounting. Several European countries have made statements expressing their concern. This night, also the US State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said the US would protest to the Zimbabwean Government following the detention of four US diplomats for four hours. He also hailed Zimbabwean voters as they had "persevered in casting their votes under very trying circumstances."

There are no results made public yet and also the international election observers have still not announced their verdict on the elections. Counting is underway, but there are no indications how long it may take.

Sources: Based on Zim govt, MDC, press reports and afrol archives

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