Zimbabwe’s opposition claimed a clear lead over President Robert Mugabe and his party as pressure mounted on Monday evening for the swift announcement of full results from presidential and parliamentary polls. Earlier on Monday, the United Kingdom-based Institute for War and Peace Reporting said that Mugabe was to announce victory.
President Robert Mugabe and his ruling Zanu-PF party were to announce victory on Monday in the country’s parliamentary and presidential elections, according to unofficial results leaked from the Zanu-PF and Zimbabwe Electoral Commission command centres.
Zimbabweans woke up on Monday morning still not knowing if a new future had dawned on the country plagued by political and economic strife. On Sunday night, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission headquarters — called the national command centre — was deserted while the commission insisted it was verifying votes.
It is a matter of hours to go before voting stations open for Saturday’s elections in Zimbabwe. The Mail & Guardian Online spoke to South African political parties and NGOs ahead of the controversial poll. ”Mugabe will rule again. It would be a miracle if he didn’t,” said the Inkatha Freedom Party’s Musa Zondi.
The opening day of Heathrow airport’s new Terminal Five descended into chaos on Thursday, with flights cancelled, baggage delayed and long queues, while protesters rallied against further expansion. British Airways, the only airline using Terminal Five, was forced to cancel 34 flights and apologise for "teething problems".
A war of words has erupted ahead of election day in Zimbabwe this Saturday, with the opposition saying the government has already rigged the vote. These elections were ”never meant to be an even playing field”, said Nkosana Moyo, coordinator of presidential hopeful Simba Makoni’s campaign, in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
The Western Cape’s Koeberg nuclear power station is firing on all cylinders again, the South African Broadcasting Corporation reported on Monday. Eskom spokesperson Andrew Etzinger said one of the Koeberg units, which had been taken offline for maintenance, was recommissioned over the Easter weekend.
The Presidency has denied reports that it intends to declare May 2 a public holiday, saying the issue has not yet been finalised. Two union federations have called on the president to declare this Thursday a public holiday because Human Rights Day and Good Friday both fall on the same day, on Friday.
Willie Madisha plans to take legal action in both the high court and Equality Court over his dismissal as president of the Congress of South African Trade Unions, media reports said on Tuesday. Madisha, who was axed last month, wanted to be reinstated, according to the reports.
Johannesburg may be the site of Gauteng’s newest airport, it was announced on Friday. An economic feasibility study will be conducted by the Johannesburg metro council to determine the merits of building a fifth airport in the province. Currently Gauteng is serviced by OR Tambo International, Lanseria and Grand Central airports.