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Zimbabwe election update 5: 16-22 March, 2008
Solidarity Peace Trust
March 23, 2008

http://www.solidaritypeacetrust.org/?page=elections&PHPSESSID=7516d9d62c9864247f26dc7b4ff799fc

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This is the fifth election update from the Solidarity Peace Trust, summarising into general categories the notable events and quotes of the last week, as Zimbabwe heads into a now highly fluid and unpredictable election. Sources are media articles from both government and independent media published within the dates of the summary, as well as statements from civic groups. All updates available on the website.

What they they said

LOVEMORE MADHUKU - IT IS ALREADY RIGGED: "Mugabe is not facing a serious threat. The electoral situation is so defective and the ruling regime has a grip on the process in such a way that, despite the uncertainty felt by most of the electorate, he will still win. His opponents say that at the least there will be a run-off. They are wrong. The regime is confident the methods they have put in place will ensure the result they need." (Financial Times, 16 March)

MUGABE - ON OPPOSITION WINNING ELECTION: "It will never happen as long as we are still alive -- those (of us) who planned the liberation struggle," Mugabe told thousands of supporters at his first rally in the capital since hitting the campaign trail last month. (yahoo news, 23 March)

ICG - ON ELECTIONS: "We do not expect a free and fair election," said Andebrhan Giorgis, senior adviser for the International Crisis Group's Africa program. "We're hoping for the best, but that's hope against hope." (Wall Street Journal, 22 March)

MAKONI - ON MAKONI: There are two storylines. One is that I'm a Mugabe stooge, a plant. The second, which Mugabe uses, is that I'm a stooge of the West, of Britain and America. (News Week, 22 March)

WHERE ARE THE HOUSES? "Let us remember the suffering we endured in 2005 when they (Mugabe's government) felt the city was dirty and needed a clean-up," Makoni told a rally in Epworth ahead of the March 29 elections. "But when we all thought they would collect the garbage accumulating on the street corners, they held people at gun point, ordering them to demolish their own houses. Just imagine the severity of the cruelty. Zimbabwe does not deserve an oppressive government," he told supporters at the rally held under a tree on the side road of this semi-urban slum, some 15 kilometres (10 miles) southeast of the capital Harare. "It was just as good as telling a person in tatters to take off his clothes promising to buy him new ones, but only in years to come. Where are the houses we were promised after Murambatsvina?" said Makoni. (yahoo news, 21 March)

TENDAI BITI - GONO IS A TERRORIST WHO SHOULD BE SHOT: "There are some wounds which are difficult to heal. There shall be gnashing of teeth. There is going to be reason for panic and fear for those who looted public funds and aided Zanu PF terror. We ask Gono, where are you going to be when we come asking for you? Will your name be there in the book? We will come knocking at the doors of those that killed thousands in the Midlands and Matabeleland. These are scars and wounds that are difficult to heal without a Justice Commission." . . . "Gono is an economic saboteur, terrorist and number one Al Qaeda who deserves to be shot by a firing squad". (New Zimbabwe, 18 March)

MBUDZI - REMOVE MUGABE BY A CAESARIAN: "In 1998 it was clear that the old man was frothing at the mouth, he was tired," Mbudzi said amid applause from the over 3 000 people who converged on Mucheke Stadium. "But he deliberately declined to pass on the relay baton to young blood as suggested by the late veteran politician Eddison Zvobgo. Instead, the grandfather ran away with the baton into the bush." . . . . "After the opposition MDC failed to remove Mugabe in 2002 we came up with the Makoni project - a surgical operation. Ours is a caesarian operation to dump the old man Mugabe. If we don't remove Mugabe, the old man intends to outlive us all. He is '90' and life expectancy in this country is 37. We will all die and leave him to continue ruling this country." (Zim Independent, 20 March)

CHAMISA - A BABOON IS A BABOON: The MDC spokesperson, Nelson Chamisa, said the Makoni project was doomed from the onset."What renewal is Makoni talking about with Tekere-Two-boy, and Dongo and our bleating cousin Mbudzi (goat)? A baboon is a baboon even if you apply skin-lightening cream to it. It will remain a baboon even if you replace an old one (Mugabe) with a young one (Makoni)". (Zim Independent, 20 March)

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