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    Tension in Zimbabwe

    http://www.politicalforum.com/political-blogs/31742-tension-...
    116 days ago in Political Forum - US & World Politics Forum · Authority: 80

    Zimbabweans voted yesterday in an election that I have been quite worried about. I am no oracle, and I can't immediately say it threatens to become a Kenya redux - but early warning signs are not encouraging. As in the early stages of Kenya's conflict, the opposition is claiming victory based on partially available but unofficial results. Smart move? While they celebrate in the streets of Harare, Mugabe's camp is issuing some pretty ominous warnings:George Charamba, Mugabe's spokesman, warned the MDC against an early victory claim. "He announces results, declares himself and the MDC winner and then what? Declare himself president of Zimbabwe? It is called a coup d'etat and we all know how coups are handled," he told the state-run Sunday Mail newspaper. Meanwhile, international observers have voiced ambivalent and contradictory opinions about whether the elections took place in a free and fair manner.A report by Southern African observers says Zimbabwe's election was "peaceful and credible", two dissenting mission members said on Sunday. South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance, which had two representatives on the Southern African Development Community (SADC) observer mission, said they had refused to sign the preliminary report. The DA said the SADC report had concluded that "despite a number of concerns, the elections were a peaceful and credible expression of the will of the people of Zimbabwe". DA parliamentarian and mission member Diane Kohler Barnard said in a statement: "It is noteworthy that the words free and fair have not been used, which is the only standard with which to judge an election." She added: "It is impossible for this deeply flawed electoral process to be viewed as a credible expression of the will of the people of Zimbabwe." Meanwhile, the longer it takes for the official results to appear, the worse the situation could get. With competing claims of victory circulating, and results most likely known behind the scenes already, any stalling increases the likelihood of violence. If Mugabe announces a victory, the opposition will cry fraud. Then all it takes is a spark to set off the powderkeg. If a crisis does come, let me take advantage of this moment to warn you not to accept narratives about "tribal conflict." Pay attention to the urban-rural split (the opposition dominates the city, Mugabe the country) and pay attention to where the loyalties of security forces lie. Obviously, Mugabe won't be able to crack down without their support. </img> </img> </img> (Source Link)

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    Tension in Zimbabwe

    http://agonist.org/alex_thurston/20080330/tension_in_zimbabw...
    116 days ago in The Agonist | thoughtful, global, timely · Authority: 637

    Tension in Zimbabwe Zimbabweans voted yesterday in an election that I have been quite worried about. I am no oracle, and I can't immediately say it threatens to become a Kenya redux - but early warning signs are not encouraging. As in the early stages of Kenya's conflict, the opposition is claiming victory based on partially available but unofficial results. Smart move? While they celebrate in the streets of Harare, Mugabe's camp is issuing some pretty ominous warnings: Alex Thurston March 30, 2008 - 4:58pm Alex Thurston's diary