Take your victory onto the pavement
All of Zimbabwe’s radio stations are state run, and at some point, they’ll start announcing some results for yesterday’s election. So I’ve been listening to Power FM, what I find to be the most tolerable station, all night, and it’s a wonder I’m still sane. There’s nothing announced yet, and people are getting increasingly anxious. Our SMS subscribers are texting us regularly – where are the results? Why the delays? Power FM must be getting similar inquiries, as every now and again the DJ mentions that yes, the results will come out eventually, but they haven’t yet. Meanwhile, the hourly news broadcast has been updated from saying that results will start to be announced “early today” to “starting today.”
But the MDC isn’t waiting. Ballot papers were counted at polling stations, and many of these have finished. Based on these preliminary results, the MDC is claiming victory.
The few results we’ve had emailed in from polling stations support this.
Chiredzi
Chiredzi Gvt A Primary Sch. Polling Station
Presidential: MDC 99 / ZPF31 / SM25
House of Assembly: MDC83 / ZPF 28 / IND 38 / MUT 7
Senate: MDC 89 / ZPF 44 / IND 23Chiredzi Gvt B Primary Sch. Polling Station
Presidential: MDC 110 / ZPF 44 / SM 22
Parliamentary: MDC 79 / ZPF 44
Senate: MDC 102 / ZPF 19 / IND 21Marondera Urban
Godfrey Huggins Polling Station
Presidential: MDC 144 / ZPF 39
Parliamentary: MDC 137 / ZPF 48 / Mutambara 7Borradaile Polling Station
Presidential: MDC / 254 ZPF / 74 Makoni 40
Parliament: MDC 250 / ZPF 8
Good on the MDC for not waiting around. Their proactive approach is a good first step in combating a stolen election. But claiming a win at the Meikles Hotel is one thing – communicating it to the people, and converting it to victory, is another thing altogether. It’s time to the MDC to get out of the press conferences, and onto the pavement.
Sunday, March 30th 2008 at 5:08 pm
[...] While the whole world is waiting for the official announcement of election results in Zimbabwe, the opposition leader, Morgan Tsvagirai, is claiming victory. Amanda Atwood writes: But the MDC isn’t waiting. Ballot papers were counted at polling stations, and many of these have finished. Based on these preliminary results, the MDC is claiming victory. [...]
Sunday, March 30th 2008 at 8:31 pm
[...] These partial results via Kubatana: Chiredzi [...]
Monday, March 31st 2008 at 1:27 am
[...] While the whole world is waiting for the official announcement of election results in Zimbabwe, the opposition leader, Morgan Tsvagirai, is claiming victory. Amanda Atwood writes: But the MDC isn’t waiting. Ballot papers were counted at polling stations, and many of these have finished. Based on these preliminary results, the MDC is claiming victory. [...]