Sokwanele - Enough is Enough - Zimbabwe PROMOTING NON-VIOLENT PRINCIPLES TO ACHIEVE DEMOCRACY Boycott updates from around Zimbabwe Sokwanele : 27 June 2008 No one queuing to vote at City Hall (12.50 pm), Bulawayo. Usually one of the busiest city centre polling stations. THE BOYCOTT IS A RESOUNDING SUCCESS It is starting to look like the boycott has proven highly successful, particularly, as expected, in urban areas. The turnout is interesting because the country s urban areas have been under an onslaught of violence, intimidation and hate speech. The towns have been swamped with people in Zanu PF regalia, and the omnibuses and taxis plastered with Zanu PF posters. So much so that many have been worried that this would force voters into the polling stations. It's not very often that we see an absence of queues in Zimbabwe and today was one of them. This, we think, is a positive sign for future - a future where we don't have to queue for everything we need. The nationwide trend is a clear message to the dictator, he is not wanted!
Page 2 of 9 Emgwanani Nketa 1.40pm However, it isn't all positive news. We cannot pretend that violence is not happening and some of the reports we have received talk of intimidation and coercion, people being forced to vote, and threats of retributive violence to follow. The bodies of seven murdered people were found at Spillway Dam in Epworth today. We ask all Zimbabweans to be very careful in these days that follow, to take care of themselves and do what is needed to keep safe. Remember that the majority of the world, including regional countries, is watching very closely and most have already said - before the polls even opened - that the results from today could not possibly be considered free or fair. It is very important that freedom loving Zimbabweans continue to do what they have done for so many years now: stand strong and do not be tempted to resort to violence. What sickens the world more than anything is the fact that this regime is viciously aggressive towards a nation made up of people who are obviously peaceloving and decent. No one can respect or admire a callous and cruel bully; in fact, you could argue that a leader who beats up defenceless unarmed people and rules through terror is the worst kind of coward there is. Tolerance among those who once supported Robert Mugabe and his henchmen is wearing very thin. We are on a journey, a difficult and painful journey, but our destination is peace. It's worth us all reaching deep inside ourselves to find the energy to keep walking a little longer. We have included a message from Morgan Tsvangirai at the end of this mailing, sent today. Please can you take note of his messages to those who were forced to vote against their will. We would like to echo his words and say we are so sorry that some of you were forced to do something you did not wish to, and that you have been struggling with fear and uncertainty. We recognise that that must have been hard for you when you wanted to stand with us. Please do not think you were alone when you were forced to cast that ballot, because every single person who stayed away today stayed away with thoughts of people like you in our heads and prayers for your in our hearts. We are in this together, all the way and right to the end. God bless our wonderful country and all of her people. MORNING UPDATE The Econet cellphone network, owned by Strive Masiyiwa, is all but defunct so communications via cellphone are proving almost impossible. One wonders if the sole state telephone controller has deliberately put a spanner in the works? In addition, NetOne coverage is also very poor, and for the past two months it has been almost impossible to buy pay top up cards for pay as you go lines, only for contracts. The rumour is that the companies printing the top up cards were forced to use their machinery to print Zanu PF cards.
Page 3 of 9 Government knows that people are intending to spoil their votes if forced into polling stations, so the word on the street is that most voters will have to cast their ballots in the presence of a state agent. Harare The people of Harare have opted to stay at home today. By 8.30am polling stations had processed an average of 20 voters each, a far cry from the 29/3 election when people had started queuing by 4am. But the atmosphere is tense, with the expectation that midday will signal the time when the state will galvanise their thugs to force people to vote. Many activists have gone to ground, fearing for their lives, following the recent information disseminated with the latest JOC strategy report leaked. We hope and pray the observers will do their job today. Bulawayo It s a beautiful winters day, deep blue skies and the sun is shining a great day to stay at home and relax. Bulawayo has shown the dictator exactly what they think of him, the boycott of the polling stations is complete. An activist did a drive around the city and polling stations are morgue-like. The Bulawayo City Hall, usually a fairly busy station due to its location in the centre of town, is dead. Another usually busy polling station had had all of 3 voters by 9am and that is the pattern throughout the city! Hey you guys... psssst... Sokwanele - Zvakwana! Get it? In fact, all polling stations driven past, saw the police and polling agents sitting outside sheepishly enjoying the morning sunhine and reading the daily dose of propaganda from the state controlled "Chronic" newspaper. Interestingly enough the Chronicle is on the streets, but so are yesterday s copies of the Sowetan and the South African Star. So, the government s attempt to deny all fair news coverage has been stymied by the sale of these papers, but only for those who can afford it.
Page 4 of 9 But the underground news network is in full swing. The streets around the entire city are carpeted with red and white flyers, apparently distributed in the early hours of the morning. A call came in early this morning from a high density suburb to say, Yesterday the streets were red, today they are white!" An Ndebele version of the boycott flyer is the order of the day. The other new addition adorning the streets are red spray painted V s on walls, street signs, on the roads, as well as a few beribboned trees and sign posts. Somebody was busy last night! By-Election in Pelandaba As a by product of the boycott, the polling stations in this constituency are also very slow, a clear indication that people do not believe in the legitimacy of the election process. Lowveld
Page 5 of 9 Chiredzi polling stations are also enjoying poor turnout. Right now people have been forced to gather at Triangle Stadium, where they are being given papers and cards to go and vote. Hippo Valley, Triangle and Mkwasine sugar estates have been the sites for intensive pungwes" for the past two months. People in these areas have said they will go to vote and they will vote Zanu PF for the sake of their children. Most people who in the past helped each other will not even talk to each other. Zaka People are being forced out of their homes to go and vote. Masvingo Voting patterns are the same as all other urban centres, two or three voters at most stations by mid morning. Victoria Falls/Hwange Once again, polling stations are dead. Hwange residents have been threatened with violence tomorrow if they do not turn out to vote. AFTERNOON UPDATE Harare Just about the only people to be seen at the polling stations are the police, still reading their newspapers. One activist reported they are entirely miserable and when she attempted smiling at them she was given a distinct growl. Today s election is a general non-event. There are very few cars on the roads except for chefs and army personnel smugly driving around in brand new state of the art sport and 4x4 vehicles. Harare is now renowned for its high number of Mercedes Benzs. They are so new the plastic on the head rests have not yet been removed. Whenever passing State House one can see convoys of these vehicles. Anxiety in the capital is high with rumours abounding that at the close of poll anyone on the street
Page 6 of 9 will be attacked. It would be a good idea to warn residents to stay home tonight after 7pm. Another rumour that is circulating is that militia camps in the rural areas are being shut down in order to move the perpetrators of violence into the urban areas. Several activists have reported threats have been issued warning of violence to come following the counting of ballots. Chitungwiza State agents are circulating in groups, forcing people to go to the polls and escorting them to polling stations. They are being told to write down the number of the ballot paper on their hands and have to show the number once they have voted. Mbare It has been reported that there have been isolated cases of violence this morning when forcing people to go vote. Bulawayo The highest turn out reported so far is in Paddonhurst, right next door to Brady Barracks. The sum total of 5 voters were seen loitering in the queue there! On the 29/3 the voting queue went right around the block, and this is the only ward in the constituency where Zanu PF won. The vast majority of polling stations visited have not one voter in the queue. The police surely must be tired of reading and rereading the Chronic. A friend recently met a journalist from this esteemed rag and when she referred to his paper as the Chronic, he responded, Ah, you refer to my paper as a disease!" Gweru Like all other centres very low turnout. There is an eerie calm in the town, they have been warned of the "celebration" being prepare for by Zanu PF tomorrow. Kariba It has been reported that you can hear a pin drop in this small town. However, Zanu PF representatives went to all businesses yesterday and collected ID Nos of all they could, threatening that they would check if the people had voted. Kariba is such a small town that everyone knows everyone and so there will probably be high turnout. Lowveld The town remains quiet and turnout is very low. Nyathi Boycott is successful, poor turnout. Voter turn out has been pitiful. The beerhall had a better attendance. The few who did go to vote said they spoilt their papers. Masvingo Boycott is successful, poor turnout. Once again, the same story. The only station of any significance is the one close to the army barracks, where a meagre 30 people were seen queueing in the morning. Kadoma
Page 7 of 9 Boycott is successful, poor turnout. Chivhu Boycott is successful, poor turnout. Rural Areas Most areas are sending in communications that people are being forced to vote. One activist bemoaned the fact that he should have distributed pink ink in advance so the thugs could not accuse anyone of not having a pink finger. In one constituency the militia recently beat their own supporters who had Zanu PF cards and T- shirts to show, but they were still battered - the militia do not believe anyone any more. One wonders who they have voted for? Thumbs up on the boycott Check out our Red Alert set on Flickr for lots more high resolution pictures. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sokwanele/sets/72157605828445492/ Statement by MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai What is happening today is not an election. It is an exercise in mass intimidation with people all over the country being forced to vote. Fortunately, Zimbabweans are attempting to stay away from the polls as they can tell the difference between democracy and a dictatorship desperate for the illusion of legitimacy. There is nothing legitimate about this election process. In many rural areas and some urban areas people were forced to spend the night in the open outside the polling stations. Today they have been ordered by militia to record the serial numbers of their ballot papers to identify anyone that might vote for the MDC. They are being told that before polls close they must gather again to await the results.
Page 8 of 9 These same militia are threatening anyone that doesn't vote or who votes for the MDC with death. Every voter in Zimbabwe has their little finger dipped in red ink. The militia are warning that tomorrow they will launch Operation Red Finger that will target anyone who has not voted. We have also had reports that people are being forced to claim that they are illiterate so that they are then accompanied into the polling booth by a member of the militia. And yet still millions of brave Zimbabweans are resisting these threats and staying away from the polls. Zimbabweans know that there is nothing legitimate about this election and they know that there will be nothing legitimate about the result. This is a view shared by many African and world leaders. Anyone who recognizes the result of this election is denying the will of the Zimbabwean people and standing in the way of a transition that will deliver stability and prosperity not just to the country, but to the region. I am heartened by the fact that so many African leaders are now working with the MDC towards finding a lasting, peaceful solution to the Zimbabwean crisis. These African leaders realize that it is essential that Zimbabwe joins the new Africa by joining the family of African nations where the people's right to choose their leaders and live lives free of fear and oppression is of paramount importance. The end of this terrible, violent dictatorship is now assured, the people's victory may have been delayed by this sham election but it will never be denied. The achievement of a New Zimbabwe where the government fulfills its responsibility to provide a stable economy, jobs, health care and education is now closer than ever. I thank you. Subscribe to receive mailings by sending an email to elections2008@sokwanele.com. You can also subscribe yourselves automatically via our website at the following address: www.sokwanele.com/join.html. Visit our website at www.sokwanele.com Visit our blog: This is Zimbabwe (Sokwanele blog) Send an e-card! www.sokwanele.com/sendcard/ We have a fundamental right to freedom of expression! Sokwanele does not endorse the editorial policy of any source or website except its own. It retains full copyright on its own articles, which may be reproduced or distributed but may not be materially altered in any way. Reproduced articles must clearly show the source and owner of copyright, together with any other notices originally contained therein, as well as the original date of publication. Sokwanele does not accept responsibility for any loss or damage arising in any way from receipt of this email or use thereof. This document, or any part thereof, may not be distributed for profit. You may automatically unsubscribe from this list at any time by visiting the following URL:
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