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Launch of "Things Fall Apart" report
Crisis Coalition in Zimbabwe
March 30, 2005

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The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition has over the last eight months monitored the electoral process. The following are the coalition's pre-elections observations.

i. There has been a significant reduction on overt violence compared to June 2000 polls.
ii. Access to rural areas has also significantly improved.
iii. Access to the public media has also moderately improved.
iv. The ZRP and military have discharged their duties in a less partisan manner.

However, there are factors of concern viz the parliamentary poll to be held tomorrow and these are:

i. Covet intimidation is still rife, as is the culture of fear.
ii. Access to the public media is inequitable.
iii. The effects of POSA and AIPPA have restrained the capacity of the opposition to campaign freely.
iv. The effect of the NGO legislation has been to limit the capacity of the NGOS to carry out voter education and monitor the human rights situation on the ground.
v. The use of military and state intelligence officials in electoral bodies such as ZEC, ESC and delimitation commission is inimical to the requirements to the requirements of a free and fair election.
vi. Private media is still severely stifled, for example four (4) Newspapers were closed in a space of 1 ½ years.
vii. The representation of women is still dismally low and will fall short of the agreed SADC 1/3 quota.
viii. The infrastructure of violence set up by ZANU PF over the last 5 years is still intact and has been absorbed into the state institutions.
ix. The voters' roll has not been easily accessible and is still in shambles.
x. In addition, the publication of polling stations has been characterized by a number of flaws.
xi. There has been a wholesale disenfranchisement of Zimbabweans in the diaspora.

The above factors point to only one conclusion that the Zimbabwean government has not scrupulously complied with the SADC guidelines and principles. In the result, the election to be held tomorrow will not be free, fair or legitimate. This position will not be altered by an MDC victory.

Visit the Crisis in Zimbabwe fact sheet

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