Zimbabwe Police on Standby Over Fears of Election Fraud
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
HARARE, Zimbabwe — Zimbabwe security forces were on standby in opposition strongholds yesterday amid growing speculation that President Mugabe lost the weekend election but was still poised to declare victory.
More than 24 hours after polls closed, the Zimbabwe electoral Commission had yet to release a single result from any of the 9,000 stations where votes were cast for the president, parliament, and councilors.
“The delay in announcing these results is fuelling speculation that there could be something going on,” the head of the Zimbabwe election Support network, Noel Kututwa, said.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change declared itself winners. Mr. Mugabe’s spokesman, George Charamba, warned the MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, of the possible consequences.
“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.”
Before the poll, Zimbabwe’s police commissioner, Augustine Chihuri, and head of the armed forces, General Constantine Chiwenga, said they would only serve Mr. Mugabe.
Their defiance raises the stakes in the light of the MDC’s victory claim.
The party’s general-secretary, Tendai Biti, said that Mr. Tsvangirai was leading the presidential race with 67% of votes, based on returns from 35% of polling stations.
He added: “They want to rig. But we have our own database with results and we shall release them because the people have voted the dictator out.”
Britain last night signaled its support for the MDC.
The Foreign Office minister, Lord Malloch-Brown, said: “We have got to wait for the results. But it is quite likely President Mugabe has lost despite the massive pre-election day cheating that had been organized and structured. if that is the case we will work vigorously with the international community to make sure that the people’s result prevails.”
The deployment of security forces in Harare’s suburbs, where many MDC voters live, was being seen as a sign that Mr. Mugabe is prepared for violent protests by opposition supporters if, as expected, he declares himself and Zanu-PF, the ruling party, the winners.
