The Talking Dog

With the opposition safely in the lead in early polls in Zimbabwe's parliamentary elections, a team of international observers led by former Secretary of State James Baker and Congresswoman Katherine Harris (R-FL) have declared Zimbabwe's elections to be "above-baord, free and fair". Indeed, both Baker and Harris commented on the lack of allegations that voers of color were being denied access to the polls.

President Mugabe dismissed allegations that exit polls showing a strong win by the opposition party or allegations that the voting process was not transparent are of any merit, noting that he considered whatever happens "a mandate of my careful stewardship of Zimbabwe" and said he anticipated having a great deal of political capital after the polling, when he predicted he would have 92 seats out of the nation's 150-seat parliament (although there was some dispute when an aide suggested his party would have 95-seats; evidently, there was a dispute among members of the ruling party about how large they wished their landslide to be.)

Mugabe praised the Zimbabwean people for the orderly process, and thanked God for not blessing Zimbabwe with large oil reservers.

The Talking Dog

April 1, 2005, Zimbabwe Elections Free and Fair

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