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Pre-election Update No. 1: 24 November to 14 December 2007
Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN)
January 11, 2008

http://www.zesn.org.zw/newsflash_view.cfm?nfid=12

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The Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) is observing the pre-election period of the synchronized 2008 elections that are scheduled for March. ZESN trained and deployed 120 long-term observers who are monitoring election related events in the existing 120 parliamentary constituencies. This report covers events that took place between November 24 and 14 December 2007.

Methodology

This report is based on the first hand observations made by the trained ZESN long-term observers. It also based on media reports, observations of the ZESN secretariat and feedback from members of the public attending ZESN community workshops countrywide.

(i) General political situation

The general political situation during this period was peaceful and calm with the major election related activity being the 'million man' solidarity march organised by war veterans in support of President Mugabe's candidature.

During this period President Mugabe reiterated that election observers from the so-called 'unfriendly' countries would not be allowed to observe the 2008 elections. The ZANU PF party also held its extraordinary congress where the president announced that elections would be held in March but did not disclose the actual date. He urged his party supporters to shun violence and avoid vote buying. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission also announced the preliminary results of the delimitation exercise.

(ii) The political campaign

Political campaigns, though still low key, have started countrywide. ZESN observers in Harare, Mashonaland East and West reported cases of violence and coercion during the mobilisation of marchers for the 'million man' march. ZESN has not received reports of campaign meetings being disrupted. Both ZANU PF and the MDC are holding campaign meetings throughout the country. ZESN observers did not report on any campaign meetings being held by the United People's Party (UPP) or any other opposition party. ZESN observers reported that the MDC (Morgan Tsvangirai) has been campaigning in rural Midlands and Mashonaland East. Tsvangirai also held a rally in Nkayi, the MDC pro-senate's stronghold, where he called for the reunification of his party. A similar rally was held in Redcliff. There were no reports of violence at these two meetings.

(iii) Election administration

Following the adoption of the Constitutional Amendment No. 18, which also thrust the responsibility of constituency demarcation to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission¹ (ZEC), the commission proceeded to set up delimitation committees countrywide. The opposition MDC has condemned this action arguing that it is not in the spirit of the ongoing talks between ZANU PF and MDC to continue with the delimitation exercise before the ZEC is reconstituted.

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