|
|
|
|
|
First Sitrep - 15.00 hrs
I have been out since early morning - watching the poll after actually
voting at a local school. We are also in touch with MDC structures
across
the country. At 15.00 hrs my read of the situation is as follows: -
1. There has been a nationwide effort to restrict MDC
presence in the polling stations. Many different methods were used and
we
might yet see efforts made to expel them from the polling stations
before
vote verification and counting begins. This effort has by and large
been
overcome and my estimate is that well over 90 per cent of the 8 300
polling
stations now have at least 2 polling agents present.
2. The poll is heavy and turnout excellent - by mid
day I
estimate that up to 2,5 million votes had been cast and we will
therefore
see at least 3 million genuine votes cast during balloting. My read of
this
is very positive for the MDC.
3. There have been very few incidents - perhaps a
dozen of
violence at the polls but police intervention has been acceptable. We
have
had at least two reports of people voting twice - one arrest.
4. I expect polling to finish on time in all rural
constituencies but may have to be extended in urban constituencies. It
is
clear again that Bulawayo, Gweru and Harare do not have enough polling
stations and at this time there are still long queues at certain
stations.
5. A large number of rural polling stations do not
have
adequate lighting and this will present a problem this evening as
verification and counting gets under way. Each MDC polling agent has a
candle and this will help but more light is needed.
My read overall is that a major upset may be underway. The media is
still
predicting a Zanu PF victory but I think they have it wrong. The only
way
they can win this is by ballot stuffing on a massive scale and in many
places - very difficult this time round.
Many MDC activists were up all night getting poling agents into place
last
night - tonight we will be up all night and will send out a sitrep
every 4
hours or so.
Eddie Cross
Bulawayo, 31st March 2005
|