Zimbabwe vote extended

[gelatik]

Zimbabwe's High Court has ruled that the bitterly fought presidential election
should continue for a third day.
Eric Matinenga, a lawyer for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC), said the judge had ordered that an extension be granted "not only for
Harare ... but the whole country until close of voting tomorrow."



What we would hate is a situation where some people would be turned away
because they were not able to vote

Morgan Tsvangirai
There has been no immediate reaction from the government, but state television
said Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa would appeal to the Supreme Court to
strike down the ruling.


As the time for the official end of voting passed on Sunday at 1900 local time,
thousands of people were still waiting to cast their ballot.

Mr Chinamasa had said those still queuing when polls closed would be allowed to
vote, but that any further extension was unnecessary.

Some 5.6 million people have been eligible to vote in the election, in which
President Robert Mugabe faces a strong challenge to his 22-year rule from MDC
leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

The election's registrar general, Tobaiwa Mudede, said that by midday on
Sunday, 2.4 million people had cast their vote - less than 50% of those
registered.

Urban strongholds

After the MDC asked the High Court to extend voting into Monday, officials from
the court flew over the busy areas to assess the scale of the queues.


HAVE YOU VOTED?


Our names had to be checked on four different rolls and as those checking
didn't know the alphabet, this took ages

Brian, Zimbabwe

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The opposition has alleged that the government has been deliberately slowing
the pace of voting in its urban strongholds to boost the chances of Mr Mugabe
being re-elected.

Casting his vote on Sunday, Mr Tsvangirai renewed his call for an extension of
the vote.

"What we would hate is a situation where some people would be turned away
because they were not able to vote. That I think would be a tragedy for this
country."

Correspondents say last-minute changes to the election laws, changes to the
voter register and a reduction in the number of polling stations in urban
areas, have slowed the process dramatically.

[Gość: archimed]

I co to da? Czarna małpa rodezyjska Mugabe i tak oglosi, że wygrał, i wojskiem się podoprze. Dopóki
nie zawisnie na gałęzi (nie na latarni, bo te rozkradł), ten kraj bedzie sie się staczał w szambo.