Well, I am sure you are tired of the media overload on the Zimbabwean Elections but before we leave this and go onto the obvious fall out when the results are officially released I would like to weigh in with my thoughts on the elections.

Thought Number 1: Wow! The Zimbabwean Electoral Commission (ZEC) seemed very professional. The pictures on SABC Africa and Al Jazeera showed a somewhat well organised voting system. Al Jazeera actually showed the whole voting process from beginning to end, they had that kind of access. From the surface the Zimbabwean government allowed people to express the vote without any incident. There was however a heavy police presence in Harare (Capital of Zimbabwe). I was surprised by the professionalism showed by ZEC as I expected chaos as is always the case in Zimbabwean elections. This time there was none of that. Good sign? Maybe… But ZEC now is taking its time releasing the results.

Thought Number 2: From what I can gather from Al Jazeera, the only International broadcaster allowed to cover the Zimbabwean Elections, the Zimbabwean government gave press credentials to many other international news outlets and observer missions. Japan has an observer mission and the Canadian Broadcasting Commission (CBC) is broadcasting from Zimbabwe. So I want to feel sorry for Sky News, CNN and BBC for not being allowed to report from within Zimbabwe but I don’t. They may have spun the elections like they always do. So hard luck Sky News, CNN and BBC you are doing a good job reporting from Zimbabwean borders.

Thought Number 3: I don’t know if I really care about the Zimbabwean result. Many of the news outlets have been reporting that the current Mugabe Regime will rig the elections anyway. So we are waiting for news we already know, right? It seems we are all going through the motions of waiting for the inevitable. I won’t be surprised if Mugabe wins and MDC supporters riot and go to court where they will loose and then they will protest again and go to court again they will stop and all will be back to normal. Zimbabweans will continue to suffer and many will border jump into South Africa and life will go on. I have seen this film before, a sad political life drama produced and directed by Mugabe and Co. I don’t want it again. I am tired of it. Too cynical?

Thought Number 4: Where is the ANC on this issue? I have not seen or heard much in this except the normal rhetoric. I can understand why the South African government is quiet but the ruling party should be saying more, shouldn’t they? Zimbabwe is South Africa’s most important neighbour and regional partner contrary to popular belief. In effect what happens in Zimbabwe has an effect on South Africa, whether good or bad. Recently it has been bad with the increase of Zimbabwean immigrants, which has led to social unease in townships where most immigrants find residence. I mean last week two Zimbabweans burnt to death while in their house in a township. The level of xenophobia in South Africa is high and if more Zimbabwean will continue to flood into South Africa it will increase.

These are some of the thoughts that come to mind for me on this issue. I can hope that the Zimbabwean people will be allowed their choice in leadership to govern them.

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