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Tension grows in Zimbabwe as results are delayed
On 29 March 2008, Zimbabweans took part in a general election to elect members of the parliament, local councillors and a president. For the first time since the country gained independence from Britain in 1980, opposition parties have a majority in the House of Assembly.
According to results released by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, the main opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), led by Morgan Tsvangirai, won 99 seats. The ruling Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) won 97 seats. The faction of the MDC led by Arthur Mutambara won 10 seats and one seat was won by an independent candidate.
While the situation has remained calm so far with all political parties exercising restraint, Zimbabwe is now a country "on the edge" as presidential election results are delayed. The electorate has remained peaceful since they voted last week but people are anxious and tension is growing.
Amnesty International has urged the Commissioner-General of the police to ensure that officers under his command continue to operate in a non-partisan manner and observe the rights of all.
The Electoral Act stipulates that if none of the candidates get more than 50 per cent of the vote, within 21 days a second round has to be held between the two candidates with the most votes.
In the event that the presidential election goes into a run-off, Amnesty International has called on the government of Zimbabwe to fully respect the rights to peaceful assembly and association of all political parties and candidates.
The government of Zimbabwe must ensure that police officers act with restraint when policing peaceful demonstrations. People who are arrested and detained should be accorded all of their rights while they are in police custody. Detainees must be allowed access to lawyers, food, water and medical care.
