/ 26 November 2005

Little voter enthusiasm for Zim Senate poll

Election observers have predicted a low turnout in Zimbabwe on Saturday for a Senate vote amid apathy, a split within the opposition and concern the poverty-stricken country cannot afford the new Upper House of Parliament.

The independent Zimbabwe Election Support Network said the split in the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) over whether to participate in Saturday’s vote has left urban voters confused. The ruling party is poised to control the new House.

”While there has been a general lack of interest in the elections, the widespread ignorance on the role of a Senate … will mostly likely result in massive apathy,” said the network.

It said voters suffering acute shortages of food, petrol and other essentials question ”the huge costs” of running an election and noted that salaries, perks and hotel and travel expenses of new Senators would put further strain on the ailing economy.

The government estimates annual costs of the Upper House at about Z$60-billion ($60-million) in a country suffering its worst economic crisis since independence in 1980.

Zimbabwe’s increasingly autocratic President Robert Mugabe is facing international isolation.

The Senate will comprise 50 elected seats (19 of them already ceded to Mugabe’s party because no opposition candidates were running in those districts), 10 seats for traditional chiefs chosen by the fiercely pro-government Council of Chiefs and six senators appointed by Mugabe.

John Makumbe, a political scientist at the main Zimbabwe university, described the Senate as providing ”jobs for the boys” and said the Upper House has no powers to veto legislation sent to it by the 150-seat Lower House.

”It’s a toothless bulldog that will do nothing. In the current situation, the money could be better spent on social and public services,” he said.

Several relatives of government ministers and officials are expected to take up Senate seats.

Last month, the main labour-backed MDC suffered its deepest rift since it was formed in 1999 as the first major challenge to Mugabe’s rule.

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai ordered a boycott of the Senate race. But his rivals in the party fielded 26 candidates for Saturday’s vote.

Mugabe has campaigned since Monday, flying by helicopter to his party’s traditional rural strongholds. He promised the government would feed the hungry and accused Tsvangirai of causing divisions in the country. Other campaigning has been muted.

The state Electoral Commission said on Friday 3,2-million people were eligible to vote on Saturday at 4 500 polling stations across the country. Polling opened at 7am local time and was to close at 7pm. First results are expected on Sunday. — Sapa-AP