Deep divisions after Mugabe's emphatic election victory

SADC - the largest and potentially most influential group of observers - was the first to declare that the elections were free and peaceful despite the fact that it found shortcomings in the way the voters' roll was compiled and made available. Business Day reports that Bernard Membe, head of the 573-strong SADC observer mission said the group's final report would be issued within 30 days of the results being announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). SADC's verdict will be particularly important because the European Union indicated that it would be guided by the 15-nation body's assessment, although not bound by it. BBC News reports that the African Union observer mission in Zimbabwe declared that the elections were 'free, honest and credible'.

This assessment stands in stark contrast to claims made by the Zimbabwe Election Support Network, the largest observer group in the country - questioning the credibility of the process and calling it 'compromised'. City Press reports that President Jacob Zuma yesterday (Sunday) extended his 'profound congratulations' to Mugabe, and urged 'all political parties in Zimbabwe' to accept the results 'as election observers reported it to be an expression of the will of the people'. However, The Times reports that the Federation of Unions of SA (Fedusa) today (Monday) labelled the election 'a fraud'. 'Firstly we must agree that the Zimbabwean elections of 2013 were peaceful and without obvious intimidation, especially in light of what happened in 2008. However, we can categorically state that the electoral processes were not fair,' it said. Fedusa noted that the voters' roll was only released on Tuesday, on the eve of the election, and many people who wanted to vote did not appear on the list. The Guardian reports that the US and Britain expressed their concerns after Mugabe was declared the winner with 2.4m votes, giving him 61%. His challenger Morgan Tsvangirai, who received just 34% of the votes, is quoted in the report as saying: 'The fraudulent and stolen election has plunged Zimbabwe into a constitutional, political and economic crisis. Instead of celebration, there is national mourning.' Australia which suspended sanctions against Zimbabwe to help encourage 'free and fair' elections has added its voice to international concerns, calling for the election to be re-run. A report on the News24 site notes that Foreign Minister Bob Carr said the voting procedures 'appear to have disenfranchised large numbers of voters and raised doubts about the credibility of the election results'. Full Business Day report Full BBC News report City Press report Full report in The Times Full report in The Guardian Full report on the News24 site

In another worrying development, the Zimbabwean stock market crumbled today after the result sent investors panicking amid fears that the new government would reintroduce the Zimbabwean dollar and intensify the empowerment drive. A report on the News24 site notes that the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange's main industrials index lost 11.09% to 205.57 points, while the total market capitalisation tumbled to $5.34bn from $5.97bn with most investors cancelling their buy orders. The report says some of the stocks that lost ground were SABMiller-owned Delta down 20%, Econet down 14.71%, Tongaat Hulett-owned Hippo Valley down 4.76%, Edcon-owned Edgars down 28.57%, and Investec-owned OK Zimbabwe down 13.33%. Full report on the News24 site

The Times reports that Tsvangirai said he will challenge the results in court and has evidence of vote-rigging, irregularities and intimidation on a massive scale. Amid reports that Movement for Democratic Change officials were being victimised in the wake of Mugabe's crushing victory, Tsvangirai tweeted that he had received 'harrowing stories of our supporters and polling agents being targeted for intimidation and open violence by Zanu-PF thugs'. Zanu-PF has angrily rejected all vote-rigging allegations. Eleven MDC activists have taken refuge at the party's headquarters after being hounded out of their homes in Mbare by Zanu-PF youths over the weekend. Erica Tsodzo said she fled her home after her windows were broken by 'thugs', according to the report. 'They said: "We are the children of Mugabe; you have to leave this area, this is our place".' Veteran Zimbabwean opposition leader Roy Bennett has called for a campaign to bring the country to a halt, saying: 'There needs to be resistance against this theft and the people of Zimbabwe need to speak out strongly.' A report on the News24 site notes that Bennett, an aide to Mugabe's long-time rival Morgan Tsvangirai, spends much of his time outside Zimbabwe after a series of arrests. He remains MDC treasurer. Bennett expressed dismay at an election he described as an 'absolute total sham'. He is quoted in the report as saying: 'It's not a case of even rigging it. It's a case of having totally stolen it. Blatant, outright, daylight theft of the greatest proportions.' Full report in The Times Full report on the News24 site

It has emerged that Tsvangirai and his MDC-T party took part in the elections against advice from SADC which urged him to withdraw from the polls. This was the only way the elections could be delayed so concerns about the reforms of the security sector could be addressed,' a government aide told City Press. The claim was corroborated by a separate source, who is quoted in the report as saying: 'The MDC-T didn't want to (pull out) because they were convinced that they would win the elections.' Full City Press report

Despite deep misgivings about the fairness of the poll, it is conceivable that realpolitik will pressure Britain and its allies to lift the last remaining sanctions against Mugabe and his inner circle. The Guardian reports that Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa has suggested that the result was a historic vindication of Mugabe and defeat of the west, proof that Zanu-PF was right about everything from human rights to seizures of white-owned farms. 'As far as Zanu-PF is concerned, we have never refused to talk to them. It was (Tony) Blair and (Gordon) Brown who refused to talk to our President over a decolonisation issue to do with the land question.' The report says Chinamasa denounced the travel bans and asset freezes imposed by the European Union and US, which Zanu-PF has blamed for Zimbabwe's economic crisis. 'These are not from the UN, they are just from a club of white people who just don't like the fact that we are repossessing our land ...The sanctions are illegal and they should be lifted yesterday, not tomorrow.' Full report in The Guardian

Even before the election was officially called for Zanu-PF, Mugabe followers were already planning how to use their parliamentary majority. 'The new constitution will need cleaning up,' said Chinamasa, referring to a text overwhelmingly approved by Zimbabweans in March that introduced term limits and curbed presidential powers. Business Day reports that Chinamasa said Mugabe's government would also press on with controversial efforts to bring firms under black ownership. Investors have expressed fears that may mean rolling back the power-sharing government's efforts to stabilise the economy after crippling hyperinflation and joblessness. 'It's back to extreme volatility,' Iraj Abedian, the CEO of Pan African Investments, is quoted in the report as saying. 'We can expect fairly radical positions that will have populist support, but which will have huge implications.' Full Business Day report (subscription needed)

A video has emerged in which alleged Zanu-PF youths were bussed in from 'undisclosed rural areas' to vote in Harare's Mount Pleasant suburb. A report on the News24 site notes that the clip shows MDC secretary-general Tendai Biti telling an election official that it was blatant cheating. Full report on the News24 site View the video