Mugabe calls Zimbabwe election

ZIMBABWE President Robert Mugabe yesterday called a general election on March 31 amid fears that polling could be as violent and flawed as the last vote.

In 2000 parliamentary elections, the opposition came close to toppling Mr Mugabe’s ZANU-PF, despite electoral rules seen as biased in the ruling party’s favour and violence and intimidation blamed on that party.

This time, it was not clear if ZANU-PF would even face opposition. The opposition Movement for Democratic Change is due to announce on Thursday if it will contest the election.

Last year, it suspended participation in all elections to protest electoral laws.

Some reforms have been announced but opposition leaders say they do not go far enough.

In a signed proclamation issued last night, Mr Mugabe said the Harare parliament will be dissolved on March 30 to allow for polling on the following day for the 120 elected seats.

Nearly six million of the 12.5 million Zimbabwe population are registered as voters. Mr Mugabe won a presidential election in 2002 by just 400,000 votes against Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

Unemployment in Zimbabwe exceeds 70% of the workforce. Inflation is 132% and an estimated 80% of the population live in poverty.