In addition to inviting email contributions, we also asked our many SMS subscribers what a new Zimbabwe looks like to them. Read some of their ideas below, and text your dreams for a new Zimbabwe to +263912452201

• I desire everything to be in order – no corruption
• Want stable currency and return to real money – not bearer cheques
• First essential is freedom of expression and assembly so we can tell government what the people want and don’t want.
• To quickly remove POSA and AIPPA.
• Freedom of expression & association. Observation of human rights. Impartial judiciary, economic emancipation etc
• Transparency, health and education delivery, a new constitution, non-partisan police and army, accountable leadership and good economy
• We need fuel to be available in service stations, to access forex in the banks, free primary education, affordable health delivery system and cheap food for all
• Mainly I am concerned with return of the environment of happiness we used to have
• New Zimbabwe – new constitution by the people for the people.
• A new people driven constitution
• Good international relations then total globalization
• Well in free Zim fist we want e rule of law and availability of basic commodities inputs & jobs
• I wld want a new constitution that doesn’t give 2 much political power to an individual. There should be guaranteed freedoms 4 citizens.
• Changes(1)Re-currency(coins&notes)(2)Stop paying war vets(3)Reduce gvt ministries(4) promote industrial &agric investment
• Reduced tax
• Racial integration – equal opportunities 4 blacks and whites etc eg cricket team, sustainable labour laws, respect 4 property rights, free market, free media, just want more!
• We should never again leave power in the hands of one man.
• In a new zim we want freedom to exercise our rights end police brutality stop corruption ban all the fake police (neighbourhood police)
• Want affordable tertiary education and respect of the rights of students and all citizens. Accommodation of youth in decision making
• We want a small but efficient civil service real money foreign investment revival of industry revamp education health transport communication
• Truth and reconciliation commission. . . Clean the mess and corruption in councils and parastatals and c.i.o. . .
• They must be an independent electoral commission with a balanced composition of members headed by the united nations for fair decisions
• Fill up shops with goods. We don’t want black markets. Open up closed industries.
• We want a new constitution for the people by the people
• Free the airwaves, scrap aippa, posa & indigensation bill, give back tertiary students financial assistance
• In the new free Zim govt policies should be worker friendly iregardless of sectors. reduce income tax and stabilise economy and mend international relations.
• health and Education ministries given lion s share of e National Budget. Not Defence we a nt at war
• Want real change of everything, cabinet, parliament and state house. Morgan Tsvangirai deserves the seat People are tired of ZPF.
• Respect for rule of law and a justiciable bill of rights
• In a free Zim l want the new gvt to consider the welfare of civil servants & stable economy
• We want the new govt to free the airwaves.
• Pres M Tsvangirai and MDC should be left alone to form a cabinet & govt no links to corrupt zanu pf officials
• We need proper education for our children. Also to have money not bearer cheques with these shit useless billions. We want to use coins and proper notes.
• Mugabe and the crew should respect the will of the people enough is enough unless if they declare one party state then the electorate will know. We want those results to be announced we are part of sadc we should abide by the rules that govern that body period.
• Rule of law, job creation, health, removal of POSA and AIPPA, reasonable number of people in Parliament
• No political beatings, many newspapers, tv stations, cheap goods, electricity, clean water, hospitals and jobs

Life often confronts us with so many challenges that sometimes the things we want to achieve seem so elusive. A week before the moment that I believed would define the future of Zimbabwe, my heart was torn apart. A part of me was excited and hopeful that the time had come for citizens to decide on the future of Zimbabwe and this would be done accordingly. Another part of me, for fear of disappointment and in an attempt to prepare myself for whatever outcome of the elections, was not keen in being hopeful at all.

A couple of days now, Zimbabwe still awaits the announcement of the results of the presidential election. With all the anxiety that has been created by the slow announcement of results, I for one am not sure what to expect. There is so much speculation about the results. Some in anticipation of a new government are even talking of ‘The New Independence’ referring to the period after the March 29 2008 polls.

With the way our economy has gone down, I keep on asking myself, ‘who am I to hope and dream of a better Zimbabwe?’ In trying to think about our future as Zimbabweans, so many questions remain unanswered. At the end of the day I feel some things need intervention of a high power than ourselves. All I can say to brace myself for the results and the next five years of economic recovery of further melt down is, in God we trust.

While waiting for election results is like waiting for a baby to be born. You don’t know whether it is going to be a girl or a boy, and you worry about its health.

There’s ululation when the baby arrives, and presents come from everywhere, so fighting over whether the child should have been a boy or girl doesn’t help anymore.

The Zimbabwe Election Commission (ZEC) must deliver the baby.

What matters is to have responsibility for the upkeep of the child. In this case, to respect the outcome of the results and work together for the betterment of the nation. Together as One.

Comrade Fatso’s reflections . . .

The rumours bite again. Foreign journalists have gone into hiding this evening after hearing that state security agents were raiding hotels. If the hotels were raided is another question but the fact is that the journalists and their laptops have disappeared from Harare’s cafes as I write. Fear is married to our cautious joy tonight. We are so close. But we are Zimbabwean too. And we have been so close so many times. So we are ready to have both our cynicism and our joy proved right. We are that contradictory.

We didn’t erupt into celebration yesterday. Foreign journalists and activists expected us to be jubilant, drunk with joy. But for us it’s not over until this entire house is demolished, brick by brick. Today the forex dealers are smiling at the fleamarkets. The township activists have a bounce in their step as they trod potholed streets. The waiters talk faster, confident in their banter. But we are not ecstatic. We are Zimbabwean. And we know we haven’t won it all yet. Hatisati tahwina. We have been through as many rigged elections as we have stood in bread queues. They have the same stale taste. We await the repression. We await the results. We await the rigging. We await the victory. With a hesitant joy. And a bounce in our step.

This is Comrade Fatso’s Daily Blog during the Zimbabwe Election period. See www.comradefatso.vox.com

For Daily Election Blogs by other MAGAMBA! poets and activists see www.myspace.com/magamba

Dear Gushungo, as a patriotic and peace-loving son-of-the-soil, l write to you to advise you on the pertinent issue of Presidential elections. As you know, ZEC is holding on to Presidential results (a result that indicates Tsvangirai as winner) to give you time to consult on your next move and possibly to plan a graceful exit from the now chaotic stage of Zimbabwe politics. Now many people are pushing you to remain in your seat, or to call for a runoff, let me warn you that all these people are doing it for selfish interests, and they are liars.

These people lied to you that the people of Zimbabwe were with you, and that a ZANU PF victory would be overwhelming, they lied that MDC had no support; but now you know Mr President, the people have spoken, and the message is loud and clear: your time is up. Now is the time for you to exit the political stage with a modicum of dignity, you have been embarrassed by this outcome, in a runoff you will be thoroughly humiliated.

I advise you against going into a rerun not only because it is pointless, this election was more a referendum on your leadership than anything else, l caution you against a rerun primarily because of the very much alive risk of dividing our country and the likelihood of sour losers unleashing violence in the country. We do not want war, we want to heal our nation and bring the nation together.

Be a statesman and resist a knee-jack reaction of resisting change, you have said yourself that you do not believe in second rounds, you have been knocked out in this round, take it, and let the nation move on and leave it script the next chapter in the life of Zimbabwe. For inspiration you can look to the conduct of Trudy Stevenson; she put her heart and soul into campaigning for the Mount Pleasant Parliamentary Seat, she lost dismally to Tsvangirai’s MDC, upon losing she was courageous and graceful enough to concede defeat – and to wish the winner well. That is the spirit we want in Zimbabwe, of understanding that when the people have spoken then that is the end, of acknowledging that life must go on outside political office.

I challenge you Gushungo, in the name of Zimbabwe and all its fallen heroes, to rise above personal interest and bruised ego to make your next move based on the best interest on Zimbabwe. Your last act as President, that of resigning and handing over the reins to Morgan Tsvangirai, just that single act, will avert great suffering and put Zimbabwe firmly on path to recovery.

I know that there are many who were milking the country dry because of their proximity to you and your office, and they are not prepared to see an end to their outlandish lifestyles. Also, there are those who have committed heinous and egregious violations of human rights, who have looted, plundered, raped and killed in the name of Zanu PF who now feel exposed by your imminent departure from high office and are prepared to have you humiliated just to save their skins. Do not be deceived by their sweet words, leave them to face the full measure of the law.

For the sake of our country and our people who have suffered for so long, l urge you to see reason, concede defeat and sit down with Tsvangirai and urge the winners to form a government of national unity. After renouncing the Zanu PF culture and embracing democracy and good governance values l am sure Zanu PF will be useful as opposition. We need to move forward now, to a new government and a new Zimbabwe.

However Gushungo, if you choose to ignore voice of reason, and stubbornly insist on a run-off, then know that you will have squandered the last shred of dignity left in you, and all in vain, because you will surely lose, and lose in the most humiliating way. Also rest assured that the long arm of the law will catch up with all these criminals who are lurking behind the curtains at State House shouting shrilly that Mugabe is not going anywhere. The sooner you accept this reality the better for everyone, there is no turning back in Zimbabwe, the time for change is now.

The real reason why Zimbabwe’s election results have been delayed.