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| Mugabe's opponents in Zimbabwe scent change ahead of election | Mugabe's opponents in Zimbabwe scent change ahead of election |
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| Tens of thousands of people delivered a massive show of opposition to President Robert Mugabe on Monday, in what veteran observers described as the biggest election rally in Zimbabwe's history. | |
| Despite years of violence, hardship and bitterly disputed votes, the hopeful mood suggested many feel change is finally within their grasp. | |
| "If you have a cellphone, I want to see it!" shouted Nelson Chamisa, a young politician at the rally. Thousands of arms were raised and thousands of mobile phones glinted in the sun. Warned that Mugabe would resort to intimidation against elderly voters in rural areas, Chamisa urged the crowd: "Send a message: 'Parents, don't be scared.'" | "If you have a cellphone, I want to see it!" shouted Nelson Chamisa, a young politician at the rally. Thousands of arms were raised and thousands of mobile phones glinted in the sun. Warned that Mugabe would resort to intimidation against elderly voters in rural areas, Chamisa urged the crowd: "Send a message: 'Parents, don't be scared.'" |
| Chamisa's plea underlined how, even more than in 2008, this contest is also being fought with mobile phones and on the internet, making it harder than ever for abuses to be covered up. | Chamisa's plea underlined how, even more than in 2008, this contest is also being fought with mobile phones and on the internet, making it harder than ever for abuses to be covered up. |
| The young, urban, tech-savvy generation that flooded the heart of Harare was a reminder that 89-year-old Mugabe is facing another resounding defeat in his capital city. But with the president's Zanu-PF party likely to fare better in rural areas, Wednesday'spoll remains on a knife-edge and could lead to political deadlock with unpredictable consequences. | The young, urban, tech-savvy generation that flooded the heart of Harare was a reminder that 89-year-old Mugabe is facing another resounding defeat in his capital city. But with the president's Zanu-PF party likely to fare better in rural areas, Wednesday'spoll remains on a knife-edge and could lead to political deadlock with unpredictable consequences. |
| Rival Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) estimated the crowd at its final election rally on Monday at more than 100,000. | |
| Whatever the real figure, there was a vivid spectacle as a dusty field turned MDC red and a jubilant crowd sang, danced, chanted, whistled, and waved flags within sight of Zanu-PF headquarters. "Mugabe wants us to suffer," said one placard, displaying the now defunct Zimbabwean dollar, while a man wearing a red mask cavorted on stilts. The unbridled enthusiasm contrasted with a more muted atmosphere at Mugabe's last campaign rally in Harare a day earlier. | |
| Since joining Mugabe in a unity government in 2009, Tsvangirai has faced criticism for making too many concessions, allowing corruption to seep into his party and falling into a series of sex scandals. However, such disillusionment appeared banished as he climbed on the platform to cheers and countless open-palmed salutes. | Since joining Mugabe in a unity government in 2009, Tsvangirai has faced criticism for making too many concessions, allowing corruption to seep into his party and falling into a series of sex scandals. However, such disillusionment appeared banished as he climbed on the platform to cheers and countless open-palmed salutes. |
| Tsvangirai framed the election as a contest between the old guard and the new. "It is a choice between a bleak yesterday and a better tomorrow, between authoritarianism and democratic governance … the choice is not just a political choice, but it is a generational choice. Robert Mugabe belongs to the generation which fought for our independence but now we belong to a generation that is fighting for democratic change. Today's problems cannot be solved by yesterday's people. The choice is between those who would like to defend the status quo and those who would like to free the people of Zimbabwe." | Tsvangirai framed the election as a contest between the old guard and the new. "It is a choice between a bleak yesterday and a better tomorrow, between authoritarianism and democratic governance … the choice is not just a political choice, but it is a generational choice. Robert Mugabe belongs to the generation which fought for our independence but now we belong to a generation that is fighting for democratic change. Today's problems cannot be solved by yesterday's people. The choice is between those who would like to defend the status quo and those who would like to free the people of Zimbabwe." |
| Tsvangirai, who has previously been assaulted, charged with treason and subject to four suspected assassination attempts, preached a message of reconciliation that echoed Mugabe's own at independence in 1980. "As I stand before you, I am a survivor," he said. "I was beaten, I was treated like a common criminal. But I am not bitter. I have reflected on everything that happened to me and my family and I have forgiven my tormentors. | Tsvangirai, who has previously been assaulted, charged with treason and subject to four suspected assassination attempts, preached a message of reconciliation that echoed Mugabe's own at independence in 1980. "As I stand before you, I am a survivor," he said. "I was beaten, I was treated like a common criminal. But I am not bitter. I have reflected on everything that happened to me and my family and I have forgiven my tormentors. |
| "I do not want to become a prisoner of bitterness and revenge. I am a builder, not a destroyer … in our Zimbabwe there will be no losers. There is a place for everyone. Why should we destroy the house where live?" | "I do not want to become a prisoner of bitterness and revenge. I am a builder, not a destroyer … in our Zimbabwe there will be no losers. There is a place for everyone. Why should we destroy the house where live?" |
| Prosecuting Mugabe for crimes committed during his 33-year rule appears to be off the table. To laughter from the crowd, Tsvangirai, said: "I want President Mugabe to enjoy his retirement in peace and comfort in his homeland. I pray the Lord give him long life so I can show him how to lead the nation." | Prosecuting Mugabe for crimes committed during his 33-year rule appears to be off the table. To laughter from the crowd, Tsvangirai, said: "I want President Mugabe to enjoy his retirement in peace and comfort in his homeland. I pray the Lord give him long life so I can show him how to lead the nation." |
| The MDC leader warned the election is still plagued with irregularities, claiming he had not yet seen the voters roll even though he is legally entitled to do so. The party claims voter registration was fixed to favour rural areas rather than its urban strongholds. "For a long time the people of Zimbabwe have been short changed in the way elections are conducted," he said. "Don't dare do it again." | The MDC leader warned the election is still plagued with irregularities, claiming he had not yet seen the voters roll even though he is legally entitled to do so. The party claims voter registration was fixed to favour rural areas rather than its urban strongholds. "For a long time the people of Zimbabwe have been short changed in the way elections are conducted," he said. "Don't dare do it again." |
| The size of Monday's crowd suggested that Tsvangirai, making his third attempt to defeat Mugabe, still commands huge loyalty. Surveying the massed ranks of red, Chamisa, the MDC organising secretary sporting a red suit and red tie, claimed: "This is the final nail in the coffin of dictatorship. Harare is emphatic against Zanu-PF. This rally is game over. Mugabe is defeated. Nobody can stop an idea whose time has come. The river of change is overflowing." | The size of Monday's crowd suggested that Tsvangirai, making his third attempt to defeat Mugabe, still commands huge loyalty. Surveying the massed ranks of red, Chamisa, the MDC organising secretary sporting a red suit and red tie, claimed: "This is the final nail in the coffin of dictatorship. Harare is emphatic against Zanu-PF. This rally is game over. Mugabe is defeated. Nobody can stop an idea whose time has come. The river of change is overflowing." |
| Petina Gappah, a writer and Open Society fellow, expressed surprise at the scale of the rally. "If I was Zanu-PF watching this, I'd be very scared." | Petina Gappah, a writer and Open Society fellow, expressed surprise at the scale of the rally. "If I was Zanu-PF watching this, I'd be very scared." |
| Anyone wanting to rig the election must reckon with the age of instant communication. Mobile phone penetration in Zimbabwe has soared from an estimated 13% four years ago to 85% today. The website Simukai is encouraging voters to wait for the results at their polling station and send them by text message to a South African number. Other sites, Facebook groups and Twitter feeds are providing rapid updates including outlets for reports and photographic evidence of violence. | Anyone wanting to rig the election must reckon with the age of instant communication. Mobile phone penetration in Zimbabwe has soared from an estimated 13% four years ago to 85% today. The website Simukai is encouraging voters to wait for the results at their polling station and send them by text message to a South African number. Other sites, Facebook groups and Twitter feeds are providing rapid updates including outlets for reports and photographic evidence of violence. |
| Among the biggest hits is the Facebook page of "Baba Jukwa", a self-proclaimed disaffected insider of Zanu-PF who since March has been leaking details of high-level party meetings, allegations of vote rigging, and embarrassing gossip. Baba Jukwa, whose identity remains a mystery, has nearly 300,000 Facebook "likes". | Among the biggest hits is the Facebook page of "Baba Jukwa", a self-proclaimed disaffected insider of Zanu-PF who since March has been leaking details of high-level party meetings, allegations of vote rigging, and embarrassing gossip. Baba Jukwa, whose identity remains a mystery, has nearly 300,000 Facebook "likes". |
| Gappah added: "I think technology is going to be very important. We've seen the Baba Jukwa phenomenon. Every Zimbabwean has a cellphone so the message gets to the deepest rural areas." | Gappah added: "I think technology is going to be very important. We've seen the Baba Jukwa phenomenon. Every Zimbabwean has a cellphone so the message gets to the deepest rural areas." |
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