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http://www.thescotsman.co.uk/international.cfm?id=288072002

The Scotsman
March 15, 2002

Poll seen as triumph over imperialism 
JANE FIELDS IN HARARE 


THE ZANU-PF party yesterday celebrated Robert Mugabe�s
victory as "a triumph over imperialist forces led by
Britain", which it said sponsored the opposition
candidate, Morgan Tsvangirai. 

Zimbabwean security forces were on "full alert" to
stamp out any unrest, state television reported. 

Military police set up roadblocks on main roads
leading into Harare, and a strong police presence was
visible in many parts of the city. Mr Tsvangirai
called for calm despite denouncing the vote as
"daylight robbery". 

The International Monetary Fund, World Bank and most
aid agencies have suspended support in protest against
Mr Mugabe�s policies, including the seizure of
white-owned commercial farms which has compounded the
impact of a severe drought. 

Aid groups say that more than half a million
Zimbabweans are in desperate need of food and four
million of its 13 million people are at risk of going
hungry soon. Economic analysts said that Mr Mugabe�s
victory would further debilitate the economy as donors
shun what is widely seen in the West as an
illegitimate government. 

Nine white farmers were among at least 107 people -
most of them opposition supporters - killed during
months of pre-election violence, which has been
spearheaded by veterans of the independence war and
ruling party militias. 

Another two people are believed to have been murdered
during polling at the weekend. Jonathan Moyo, the
feared information minister, played down the
Commonwealth�s comments, arguing that "observation"
could not be called criticism. "The values of freedom,
dignity and sovereignty and independence have been
re-affirmed in our country and those that believe in
them should celebrate this result," he said. 

Margaret Mansah, a Namibian member of the Commonwealth
observer team which criticised the election, said she
disagreed with the interim report. Ms Mansah said she
questioned some of the members of the group, believing
they were "people who wanted to delegitimise the
election", on account of the land issue. 

Throughout the day, radio and television led heavily
on the endorsement of the elections by African
observers. Mr Mugabe, who had still made no public
statement on his re-election, was filmed receiving
messages of congratulation from diplomats from
Nigeria, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of
Congo.  




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