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Zimbabwe Elections Raise Fears Of Unrest

Syuzanna Petrosyan |
July 31, 2013 | 10:57 a.m. PDT

Executive Producer

Robert Mugabe / Creative Commons
Robert Mugabe / Creative Commons
On Wednesday morning, Robert Mugabe cast his vote in Zimbabwe’s presidential elections. At 89, President Mugabe does not seem to be ready to give up power, but he told reporters that elections would be free and fair. 

"I haven't got an account yet but I suppose they're still gathering information, but I'm sure people will vote freely and fairly," he said. "There is no pressure being exerted on anyone. So far, so good."

Mugabe has been in power for 33 years and if elected, he will stay for five more years. 

Thousands of voters came to polling stations before the poll booths were opened in spite of claims that voting has been rigged. 

Claims of election rigging have been coming forth mainly from the main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change-Tzvangirai (MDCT). Mugabe has persistently denied these claims, describing them as "politicking," adding: "They want to find a way out."

SEE ALSO: Zimbabwe election: Robert Mugabe dismisses vote rigging allegations

The United States has voiced its worries over "the lack of transparency in electoral preparations, by the continued partisan behavior of state security institutions and by the technical and logistical issues hampering the administration of a credible and transparent election," U.S. State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

The International Crisis Group has also expressed fear of a return to "a protracted political crisis, and possibly extensive violence" if the Zimbabwe poll is inconclusive and disputed. 

Mugabe has refused to allow western observer missions, including one from the Jimmy Carter Centre, to monitor voting but western embassies in Zimbabwe have been permitted to deploy a limited number of diplomats to key voting districts. The African Union and southern African region also have thousands of observers.

SEE ALSO: In pictures: Zimbabwe elections 2013

 

Reach Executive Producer Syuzanna Petrosyan hereFollow her on Twitter. 



 

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