Zimbabwe On The Brink

The Movement for Democratic Change has placed Robert Mugabe’s vote at 43.8 per cent while the other independents, Simba Makoni and Langton Towungana, have been placed at seven per cent and 0.05 per cent, respectively.

Should the final outcome fall in line with what the opposition MDC has projected, it remains to be seen whether the Zanu-PF government will agree to let MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai stride into State House while its leader peacefully steps down to occupy his mansion at his rural Zvimba Home.

I understand security chiefs have vowed they will not let Tsvangirai rule this country and are prepared to take over the reins in case the outcome favours him. That’s a dangerous approach if it turns out to be true. Already, the people of Zimbabwe, especially residents of Bulawayo and Harare, have started seeing signs of a state of emergency around them.

Armored army vehicles as well as water canons laden with acidic water have started patrolling the high density areas in the two cities - areas that are known to be trouble spots when it comes to public disorder.

The police foot patrols have been heightened with hordes of riot police officers now a common sight on the streets of Harare and its twin city, Bulawayo.

The situation is really tense and signs are that this once vibrant country is headed for serious disaster pending the announcement of the final election results.

A Very, Very Long Election

This all started on March 29, 2008, when I woke up around 8 a.m. and pulled up myself to the nearest primary school in Harare’s Avondale suburb.