Zimbabwe run-off vote may face year delay

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Zimbabwe run-off vote may face year delay

· Mugabe could hold power pending second round
· Intimidation campaign against voters continues

Chris McGreal Africa correspondent
The Guardian, Monday May 5 2008

Zimbabwe's ruling party has said that a second round of
presidential elections could be delayed by up to a year
in a move that would extend Robert Mugabe's rule even
though he admits to having lost the first round of voting
five weeks ago.

The election commission is expected to meet soon to set
a date for the run-off vote between Mugabe and the
opposition candidate, Morgan Tsvangirai. The law required
it to have been held within three weeks of the original
election, but the commission has the power to extend the
period between the votes.

The deputy information minister, Bright Matonga, said at
the weekend that the run-off might take place in three
weeks, but could take up to a year, suggesting that
Zanu-PF remains concerned at Mugabe's ability to win,
despite a state-sponsored campaign of violence and
intimidation against the opposition.

-snip-

While it is not clear whether Matonga was speaking with
Mugabe's authority in suggesting a long delay, political
analysts in Zimbabwe say Zanu-PF is not in any hurry for
another election.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/may/05/zimbabwe

[Number23]

1. It's times like this...

... when you wonder why we have a UN and what the hell are they doing. There should have been blue helmets in Zimbabwe weeks ago.