To All MDC Supporters: Zimbabwe Presidential Elections
Newsletter from Southern Support Centre
This has been a most confusing and frustrating day – but then it is entirely deliberate and designed to sap our morale. The farcical situation concerning extensions of voting did not help, with polling booths in areas opening, closing, and reopening. Confusion reigned and even in Bulawayo polling officers did not know what to do.
The result that there was apparently no polling outside the capital and Chitungwiza today. Ballot boxes are generally now inside the counting halls, and in most cases were escorted in by our polling agents.
Several reports received from the Bubi Umgusa constituency of armed resistance to polling agent’s vehicles following ballot boxes. From Inyathi reports that police actually cocked their rifles and threatened the drivers, and alarming increase of armed persons in the constituency generally. In Nyamandhlovu reports coming in of armed persons in a vehicle visiting the polling stations. The emphasis appears to be on preventing the following of ballot boxes. In Plumtree the police have said they do not want any white drivers in the area. This has been the trend in other areas as well.
Late last night in Bulawayo a government vehicle was seen with several ballot boxes on board. It drove out to Mbalabala and then disappeared towards Zvishavane, but was not seen again. What on earth could they have been up to?
In other areas ballot boxes have been taken to the wrong destinations for counting – Inyathi came into Bulawayo, as did one from Lupane, and the boxes from Zaka which should have gone to Chiredzi did not.
In West Nicholson a farmer was interrogated by the CID from Beitbridge who had driven up all that way to inspect his BBC short wave radio. How absurd can you get? Amazing how they can find transport when they want to.
What does all this mean – why do they not want us to follow ballot boxes? You can draw your own conclusions, but it all adds up to the actions of a desperate man.
Our emphasis now should please be on sending all information through to us as quickly as possible, and also on accurate reporting of every incident. All of this is required in Bulawayo so it can be captured and forwarded to those who require it.
In Esigodini police have called together leaders of both political parties and warned them that any violence after the results are announced will not be tolerated from either party.
There has been much speculation an the next two days are going to be the longest. A sense of anti-climax almost as we await the results. We have to be patient and wait it out. That we have won handsomely there is no doubt-the only question that remains is whether they will get away with their rigging and whether it will be on sufficient scale to wipe out our lead. I don’t think so. Reports of contact with international observers are most encouraging.
Depending on what happens tomorrow, we may decide not to send out a newsletter. The next one will be detailing our victory celebrations. Well done and good luck.
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