Sunday, 10 March, 2002
Zimbabwe
Voting Marred By Delays
VOA
News
10
Mar 2002
 
 Listen
to Challiss McDonough's report from Harare (RealAudio)
More long lines
are expected in Zimbabwe later Sunday in the second day of voting in a
hotly-disputed presidential election.
A high turnout and a
lack of polling stations in urban opposition strongholds forced
election officials to extend voting into the night on Saturday. In one
instance in a western part of Harare, up to 20 people were injured
after voters waiting in line clashed briefly with police.
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Morgan
Tsvangirai at election rally 3 Mar 2002
VOA photo - C.
McDonough |
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Opposition
candidate Morgan Tsvangirai and civil rights groups in the capital
accused long-time President Robert Mugabe of orchestrating the delays to
rig the vote in his favor.
The opposition is
already calling for an extension of voting, which is scheduled to end
Sunday evening, because of the delays.
Justice
Minister Patrick Chinamasa says the government wants to ensure that
everyone who wants to vote gets a chance, but there has been no
official announcement on a possible extension.
Saturday, there
were also reports that ruling party militants beat up several
officials from Mr. Tsvangirai's opposition Movement for Democratic
Change.
The United
States has warned it could take steps against Zimbabwe if the election
is not free and fair. President Mugabe has run Zimbabwe since the
country gained formal independence from Britain in 1980.
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