ZIMBABWE: PRESIDENT MUGABE CAMPAIGNS IN OPPOSITION TERRITORY ON THE EVE OF VOTING IN COUNTRY'S GENERAL ELECTIONS

Record ID: 347515

  • Title: ZIMBABWE: PRESIDENT MUGABE CAMPAIGNS IN OPPOSITION TERRITORY ON THE EVE OF VOTING IN COUNTRY'S GENERAL ELECTIONS
  • Date: 7th April 1995
  • Summary: BRAYESIDE, HARARE, ZIMBABWE (APRIL 7, 1995) 1. GVS SINGING AND DANCING ZANU-PF SUPPORTERS ARRIVING FOR RALLY (2 SHOTS) 0.12 2. GV/CU ZANU-PF YOUTH LEAGUE DEFACE POSTER INDEPENDENT CANDIDATE MARGARET DONGO (2 SHOTS) 0.24 3. SCU ZANU-PF YOUTH LEAGUE REPLACE DONGO'S POSTER WITH POSTER OF ZANU-PF CANDIDATE VIVIAN MWSHSITA 0.31 4. GV ZANU-PF
  • Embargoed: 22nd April 1995 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: BRAYESIDE, HARARE, ZIMBABWE
  • City:
  • Country: Zimbabwe
  • Reuters ID: LVA779D2YFJBFTV63OCNQSQ6ZQTY
  • Story Text: Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe capitalised on the last remaining hours before the polls open in his country's general elections when he addressed a rally in the Harare suburb of Bayeside, recognised as the stronghold of independent opposition candidate Margaret Dongo.

    The polls open at 0500gmt on Saturday, April 8, and Mugabe is already assured of victory but he is concerned that voter apathy will damage his political standing after 15 years in power.

    The turnout in the last elections in 1990 was 54 percent, but in subsequent by-elections it has been as low as six percent.

    A crowd of about 600 Mugabe supporters wearing ZANU-PF T-shirts and bearing campaign slogans cheered their support for the President. Some supporters even tore up campaign posters showing Margaret Dongo, who used to be a leader in Mugabe's ZANU-PF before leaving the party to stand as an independent.

    However, in the centre of Brayeside near to where the rally was taking place, supporters of Dongo marched wearing T-shirts boldly declaring their support for the opposition candidate.

    Campaign apathy and the focus on the opposition has meant little has been discussed by political leaders in the way of substantive policies.

    Mugabe told his supporters democracy must unite the people and they could not afford to spend their time arguing with each other.

    Mugabe's ruling ZANU-PF and five opposition groups headed by the Forum Party are contesting 65 remaining seats in the 150-seat parliament. Thirty independents, mostly ZANU rebels, are also running.

    After the rally, however, Mugabe said of his opposition: "Well there is no opposition really, they have to do more". ZANU-PF has already won 55 seats for lack of opposition candidates. Mugabe fills 20 more seats with presidential appointees, while another 10 go to traditional chiefs -- giving the ruling party a comfortable majority before a vote is cast.

    ZANU-PF filled a total of 147 seats in the last parliament.


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