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Angry protesters pull down Zanu-PF poll posters
Tichaona Sibanda, SW Radio Africa
February 26, 2008

http://www.swradioafrica.com/news260208/protesters260208.htm

There are reports that 'angry' protesters who are against Zanu-PF's continued misrule in the country are pulling down Robert Mugabe's posters and banners in most urban areas. The ruling party has accused the MDC of conspiring with residents to pull down posters bearing Mugabe's face, but the opposition party has denied any involvement.

Our Harare correspondent Simon Muchemwa said he has witnessed many defaced ruling party election posters around the capital. He said angry residents have told him it is an insult by Zanu-PF to put up posters and banners when the city has no water and electricity.

'They are saying to Zanu-PF bring backwater and electricity before wasting money on material for their election campaign. There is growing resentment against Zanu-PF in most urban areas and people are saying they get incensed when they see their posters put up in trees and on lampposts,' Muchemwa said.

He said police have recently increased their foot patrols to try and prevent people from pulling down election posters. Muchemwa also reiterated fears that next month's harmonized elections would be marred by serious logistical problems, amid reports the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission are completely failing to perform their duties.

With a month to go to elections many questions are still being raised about the ability of ZEC to prepare and fully inform voters, because of lack of resources, especially funding.

'Up to now new constituency and ward boundaries are still to be made public. As you are aware, the ZEC introduced a localized voters' roll, requiring voters to cast their votes at prescribed voting stations but the electoral body has yet to publish a full list of the polling stations,' Muchemwa said.

'Its now weeks before the crucial poll, but there isn't anything on the ground to suggest Zimbabweans are going to vote on the 29th of next month. There is no voter education, no one knows were to go and cast their votes and worse still nobody knows how people will use the ballot papers, voting for four different candidates at once,' Muchemwa said.

The Zimbabwe Electoral Support Network, the country's largest independent observer group, has been highly critical of ZEC. Two weeks ago they released a report detailing serious deficiencies in preparations so far. ZESN argued that weeks after voter registration ended, the ZEC has yet to provide a final report on how many people are registered.

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