Manicaland residents can’t wait

Unconfirmed results in Mutare urban state that the opposition MDC has claimed all the 18 city wards, while two of its parliamentary candidates for Dangamvura-Chikanga and Mutare Central Giles Mutsekwa and Innocent Gonese appear to have romped home.
 
The same goes for the party’s senatorial candidate Keresenzia Chabuka who is said to have brushed aside a challenge from Mutare business and transport mogul Isau Mupfumi of Zanu PF’s.
 
Mutsekwa and Gonese seem to have beaten Zanu PF’s Binali Yard and Trinity Munowenyu. Former Zanu PF strongman, Edgar Tekere, who represented  former Zimbabwe finance Minister, Simba Makoni’s ‘Mavambo’ project failed to make it.
 
As early as 5am residents were streaming to polling stations to check election results. Many believe zanu PF has had its time and it now is not going to survive despite some fears of rigging from certain quarters of society.
 
Magret Mandizvidza of Dangamvura says she feels the opposition MDC will form the next government owing to Mutare urban’s results where all the 18 councilors are from the opposition party.
 
“It seems the trend will follow in other urban areas and even in rural areas. We are fed up with the Zanu PF rule,” said the mother of two.
 
Edward Chamunorwa of Chikanga in Mutare says he is unsettled as state radio is not announcing election results as earlier as promised.
 
“This could be a well-calculated move to buy time and rig the results for the presidential result. Not many people cast their ballots and it should not take the whole day to know who won and who lost,” he moaned.
 
However, the optimistic are already celebrating in high density suburbs of the country’s eastern city, home to about 400 000. Despite the financial difficulties experienced in the Southern African country, imbibers are already thronging beer-gardens sharing the news still filtering in.
 
Others have taken portable radios with them to drinking holes in anticipation of listening to news bulletins from the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings, ZBH, which has been promising Zimbabweans to announce the results as they come, but had not done so by mid-morning.
 
As the people wait with bated breath,  anti-riot and armed police are on high alert in high residential areas on patrol including the central business district.
 
While many people remain anxious, it is the candidates involved that are on the edge of their seats looking forward to victory.
 
Although the police warmed Zimbabweans from premature celebrations of election victories some are already in celebratory mood as they blare car-horns while some are playing their music loudly at home.

ACDP MP & Whip, Cheryllyn Dudley says the ACDP is still very hopeful that against all odds the voice of the Zimbabwean people will be heard.

High voter turnouts are encouraging and we applaud the people of Zimbabwe for their resilience.

We are also encouraged by President Mugabe’s comments with regard to accepting whatever the outcome despite allegations of gross irregularities pointing to an attempt to hold on to power at any cost.

Police presence and assistance in polling booths is unacceptable and we are somewhat concerned that observer missions have not been more vocal on this issue. Even if the benefit of the doubt were to be given in terms of motive – clearly intimidation would be the result.

The ACDP is praying for a peaceful outcome but one which represents the will of the people who will face the consequences and indeed have suffered the consequences of a dictatorship to date.