Announcement of Parliamentary and Senatorial Seats Out of Step

1 April 2008
PRESS STATEMENT



DELAYING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULT
IS AN ATTEMPT TO SUBVERT ELECTORAL PROCESSES
AND THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) deplores the ongoing charade currently being undertaken by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) whereby they have been releasing purported results of the elections for members of the House of Assembly in dribs and drabs over the course of the past two days.

By law, in terms of the Electoral Act as amended, winning candidates for the House of Assembly and the Senate are collated and declared at the House of Assembly collation centers (constituency centers) and the Senatorial collation centers respectively. These must subsequently be published but do not, by law, have to be publicly announced as is currently being done by ZEC.

The only results which are verified and collated at the National Collation Centre are those for the presidential election. These are then announced by the Chief Elections Officer.

ZLHR’s accredited observers witnessed counting processes at polling stations throughout the country. Reports were provided that results were being posted outside polling stations as early as 11:00hrs on Saturday 29 March 2008, where after they were transferred to the constituency centers and senatorial centers.

ZEC publicly advised the nation before Election Day that it was in full control of the administration of the harmonized elections, had provided for all eventualities and was fully resourced and prepared to undertake the elections at all its polling stations throughout Zimbabwe. It therefore beggars belief that 3 days later the presidential results have not been transferred or are not known and have not been made public.

This leads to a legitimate fear that attempts are being made to tamper with the results and subvert the will of the people. ZEC’s conduct – that of engaging in the unnecessary process of announcing winning candidates for the House of Assembly and the Senate and dragging the process on – implies complicity in such attempts.

Failing to provide clear and acceptable information to the public about the reason for the inordinate delay in declaring the winning presidential candidate has caused much anxiety and anguish in the population. ZEC must be prepared to take responsibility should their conduct result or contribute to predictable polarization and public stress that provides a basis for potential widespread violations for human rights.


- ends -

Election Watch 2

Presidential
Constituency
View reports, results or download
View reports, results to download
PRESIDENTIAL RESULTS
Morgan Tsvangirai
1000, 000

51%
Robert Mugabe
844, 000

42%
Simba Makoni
148, 000

7%

Seats


MDC



53%
ZANU-PF



42%
MUT/IND



5%

Election Watch

Zimbabwe election results 2008
OFFICIAL VOTE COUNT (House of Assembly - 210 SEATS):
The ZEC has announced results for 131 constituencies, from the 206 contested seats. Three parliamentary candidates died in Redcliff, Gwanda and Mpopoma and those elections are postponed. A fourth seat in Muzarabani South has already been won by Zanu PF's Edward Raradza who was unopposed.
Zanu PF....64
MDC..........62
MDC (Mutambara)...5

Charles.M.Mutama on BBC commenting on the elections.

Please google this site: video.aol.com/video-detail/zimbabwe/984806797 and watch this blogger on BBC TV on the eve of the Joint Presidential, Parliamentary, Senatorial and Council Elections.

Write To The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission(ZEC)

This is an urgent appeal to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to :

a) Uphold the will of the people of Zimbabwe by announcing an unbiased and impartial result;

b) Immediately announce the results of the joint Presidential, Parliamentary, Senatorial and Council Elections;

c) Uphold the figures emanating from the polling stations and desist from manipulating them;

d) Serve the citizens of Zimbabwe and not the ruling party.


Contact :

zecpr@gta.gov.zw

263 4 781 903

All Points To A Tsvangirai Victory!

The counting of votes at the polling stations, the discovery of ZANU PF vote-rigging schemes in certain constituencies, the delay in the announcement of the results and the defeat of ZANU PF in the rural areas is a clear indication of a victory for the people of Zimbabwe. MDC vote counting and civic society results show that President Morgan Tsvangirai is leading and is poised to win this crucial election.

As we await the final results, any attempts to subvert the people's wish should be nipped in the bud. The international community needs to add its voice to the concerns being expressed by Zimbabweans that Mugabe is trying to overturn the result against the wishes of the people. The African Union (AU) and SADC need to actively participate in the protection of the genuine result in order to avoid the Kenyan post-election scenario. Results that came from polling stations are accurate and indicate a Tsvangirai victory.

However, it is goes without saying that the process leading to the elections was flawed and it will be absurd for the SADC mission to declare that the whole exercise was free, fair and credible.

TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY FORCES
(Police, intelligence services, youth brigades, prison warders and army personnel)
We the PEOPLE of Zimbabwe, both inside and outside the country call on YOU as our defenders and protectors to exercise your power and role in Zimbabwe, in the interest of your mothers, fathers, siblings and children.
We are days away from another election. The hope and expectation of every Zimbabwean is that this election will herald the beginning of a life of dignity and quality. The political elite is hopeful that YOU will protect their positions and maintain the status quo. The people of Zimbabwe are hopeful that YOU will support their yearning for change.
You have heard your commanders declare that they would not support and salute anyone other than the current president. But it is this President and his elite that have made the lives of you, your family and all of us, a daily misery. The security establishment holds the key to what a post election Zimbabwe will look like, and whether reconstruction and development will take hold. You are recognized as a key force in Zimbabwe that holds the balance of power. It is YOU that can ensure an environment that is conducive for the reconstruction of Zimbabwe.
You hold an extreme amount of power. Power that can be abused and manipulated, as has been done in the past, to hurt, intimidate and further subjugate the ordinary people of our country. As sons and daughters of Zimbabwe, who hold a position of strength and power, we call on you:
ACT RESPONSIBILY and HONOURABLY
DEFEND YOUR PEOPLE, NOT THE POLITICAL ELITE,
YOU HAVE THE POWER TO CHANGE THE SITUATION IN ZIMBABWE.
It is not too late to refuse to be used as pawns by those who hold no allegiance to you and your families and whose only interest is in their own personal greed and ambition.
Show your support and allegiance to the people of Zimbabwe.
ACCEPT the will of the people as manifested through the electoral process, irrespective of the outcome.
REFUSE to be party to any form of vote-rigging and underhand attempts at manipulating the results of the forthcoming election.
REFUSEING to intimidate, harass and carry out acts of violence. Go against the orders of your commanders. Lay down your arms and rally behind the people of Zimbabwe to foster reconstruction and development.
Your role as defenders and protectors in the post-election period is most critical, especially where and when the needs and demands of people are not met. PROTECT the people of Zimbabwe and not the narrow interests of the greedy political elite.
USE YOUR POWER WISELY, BE COUNTED AS THE TRUE DEFENDERS OF THE INTERESTS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE PEOPLE OF ZIMBABWE.
DR LOVEMORE MADHUKU
00263912286804
0027827794565