As we learned throughout the entire semester, foreign correspondents face many challenges simply by performing their job. In global news today, scholars were informed that in Zimbabwe “reporting without proper accreditation” can signify journalists’ arrest. This is unfair because unlike many other professions, journalism has to heavily put up with the limitations the government imposes. In this case, the Zimbabwean government does not want citizens to know exactly what is occurring with the election.
So what is going on with the election really? The presidential election results have taken way longer than expected because incumbent President Mugabe keeps recounting the votes. He called for a run-off against opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai early in April when he realized that his rival could be the winner of his position. CNN news reported that based on the results of 243 votes posted outside the polling stations, Democratic Change Secretary General Tendai Biti said Tsvangirai won 50.3 percent of the vote! So why hasn’t the election results been announced yet? There is so much conspiracy and stimulation, but the one thing that is clear is that President Mugabe does not want to stop leading the country and will continue delaying the results to rig victory. He has led Zimbabwe since 1980 and will do anything to continue doing it. According to the CNN news coverage this weekend, Mugabe has been using violence and intimidation tactics against Zimbabweans who voted for his challenger.
The South African newspaper, the Mail & Guardian, also reported this past Sunday that African nation leaders are becoming aware of the situation and want to take action to help resolve an end to the election stalement. Jacob Zuma, an African National Congress presidential candidate for next year’s South African election, told CNN that South Africa could help Zimbabwe and that its President Thabo Mbeki was the man to lead the effort. “Definitely there is something wrong with those elections,” Zuma told CNN. Zuma said he was not sure what should be done, but that the first step should be a meeting between Mugabe and Tsvangirai and their parties, the Zanu-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change.
Zimbabweans only want the truth, but how can they know if many journalists are not even allowed to report on the subject?
For more information about Zimbabwe, please visit:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/04/19/zimbabwe.wrap/index.html#cnnSTCText
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/04/05/zimbabwe.election/index.html#cnnSTCText
So what is going on with the election really? The presidential election results have taken way longer than expected because incumbent President Mugabe keeps recounting the votes. He called for a run-off against opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai early in April when he realized that his rival could be the winner of his position. CNN news reported that based on the results of 243 votes posted outside the polling stations, Democratic Change Secretary General Tendai Biti said Tsvangirai won 50.3 percent of the vote! So why hasn’t the election results been announced yet? There is so much conspiracy and stimulation, but the one thing that is clear is that President Mugabe does not want to stop leading the country and will continue delaying the results to rig victory. He has led Zimbabwe since 1980 and will do anything to continue doing it. According to the CNN news coverage this weekend, Mugabe has been using violence and intimidation tactics against Zimbabweans who voted for his challenger.
The South African newspaper, the Mail & Guardian, also reported this past Sunday that African nation leaders are becoming aware of the situation and want to take action to help resolve an end to the election stalement. Jacob Zuma, an African National Congress presidential candidate for next year’s South African election, told CNN that South Africa could help Zimbabwe and that its President Thabo Mbeki was the man to lead the effort. “Definitely there is something wrong with those elections,” Zuma told CNN. Zuma said he was not sure what should be done, but that the first step should be a meeting between Mugabe and Tsvangirai and their parties, the Zanu-PF and the Movement for Democratic Change.
Zimbabweans only want the truth, but how can they know if many journalists are not even allowed to report on the subject?
For more information about Zimbabwe, please visit:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/04/19/zimbabwe.wrap/index.html#cnnSTCText
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/04/05/zimbabwe.election/index.html#cnnSTCText
No comments:
Post a Comment