‘Zimbabwe polls on un-level playing field’
HARARE: European Union observers said yesterday Zimbabwe’s elections had been held on an “un-level playing field” as opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters protested against alleged fraud by the election authority and ruling Zanu-PF party.
Official results strengthened President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s prospects of holding on to power in the key presidential vote, showing that Zanu-PF had easily won the most seats in the parliamentary ballot.
Several hundred opposition MDC supporters gathered outside the party headquarters here, chanting and shouting that they had won the elections.
Anti-riot police backed by water cannon trucks monitored the demonstrators, while MDC supporters also protested outside the conference centre where election results are being announced.
The EU mission found an “improved political climate, but (an) un-level playing field and lack of trust in the process”, it said in a statement, two days after Zimbabwe’s first ballot since Robert Mugabe was ousted by the military ending his 37-year rule.
EU chief observer Elmar Brok said there were “efforts to undermine the free expression of the will of the electors through inducements, soft intimidation, pressure and coercion... to try to ensure a vote in favour of the ruling party”.
“On many occasions, preparation, financing, media and hopefully not in the counting — it was advantageous for the ruling party,” he said as the mission called for transparency in the release of results.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission said yesterday of 210 parliamentary seats, 153 had been counted, with Zanu-PF winning 110 and the MDC 41.