ZIMBABWE NETZWERK e.V.

Zimbabwe ruling party sweeps by-elections, strengthens grip on power after opposition boycott

Mail and Guardian writes:" ZIMBABWE'S ruling party won all 16 seats in parliamentary by-elections, state media announced Thursday, after the main opposition boycotted the vote over allegations of a rigged electoral roll. President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF extended its grip on power after being unopposed in several constituencies or facing little-known independents and minor opposition parties. The constituencies voting on Wednesday included seats in the capital Harare and the second city of Bulawayo that had been held by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) since 2000. The MDC pulled out of the election alleging intimidation of supporters, media bias and being denied access to the electoral roll, which it claimed was stuffed with names of deceased voters. ...".