US embassy cable - 05HARARE487

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000487 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: OADR 
TAGS: ZI, PGOV, March 05 Elections 
SUBJECT: ZIMBABWE ELECTIONS: SMOOTH OPENING 
 
Classified By: AMBASSADOR CHRISTOPHER DELL 
REASON 1.4 (B) 
 
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SUMMARY 
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1. (SBU) Early diplomatic observer reports characterize 
Zimbabwe's parliamentary elections as peaceful and orderly 
with only isolated reports of government or ruling ZANU-PF 
harassment of the opposition MDC.  Diplomatic observer teams 
are reporting long queues at many polling stations, but 
shorter than in the 2000 or 2002 elections.  Voters have been 
patiently waiting to cast their votes.  The one incident to 
mar an otherwise smooth opening of the polling is the 
reported disappearance of MDC candidate Siyabonga Ncube 
(Filabusi constituency in Mtabeleland).  We have few details 
at this point but expect to know more later in the day.   END 
SUMMARY 
 
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A Quiet Start 
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2.  (SBU) The 24 U.S. Embassy observer teams and around 20 
teams from other western embassies deployed nationwide have 
reported often sizable lines of Zimbabweans waiting in 
orderly queues to cast their vote.  As of 1130 local time, 
lines in urban areas in Harare, Mutare, and other cities have 
generally been between 100-500 voters, with rural areas 
reporting queues of considerably less than 100 individuals. 
Despite the long lines, observers have reported generally 
calm and orderly voting with the size of the queues 
decreasing by the hour.  By late morning the long lines had 
dwindled considerably, in part due to on the spot efforts by 
election supervisors to improve their procedures. 
 
3.  (SBU) Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) officials, 
presiding officers, and other polling officers were reported 
to have largely adhered to the electoral code of conduct, 
including requiring the inking of voters' fingers, sealing 
ballot boxes with at least a lock or plastic tie (or both), 
and helping voters in need of assistance.  Observers in 
polling places in Murewa and Masvingo did note high numbers 
of assisted voters, up to 40% at one polling station, 
although most did appear in genuine need of assistance. 
Observers have also noted numerous voters who were turned 
away because their names were not on the voter list, possibly 
a result of redrawn districts.  ZEC officials on multiple 
occasions have refused observers' requests for information on 
turnout, although this likely extends from an unfamiliarity 
with observers' rights rather than a concerted campaign to 
deny information to the international community. 
 
4. (SBU) Zimbabwe Election System Network (ZESN) monitors 
were ubiquitous at most polling places, as were the party 
monitors.  (N.B. There were 6000 ZESN monitors for the  8000 
polling places.)  ZESN officials also reported that their 
observers' early impressions were of generally calm voting 
with only a handful of exceptions, and no pattern to those. 
They did, however, note that their relatively inexperienced 
monitors had yet to report any sense of the turnout.  In 
Mashonaland East, the ZESN provincial coordinator speculated 
that the large number of polling places for this election 
probably explains the relatively low numbers of voters at 
most stations and she thought the overall turnout was high. 
 
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VIOLENCE AT A MINIMUM 
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5.  (SBU) Compared to the 2002 and 2000 elections, reports of 
violence are almost non-existent.  Most irregularities 
reported have been little more than inappropriate questioning 
of voters by ZANU-PF members and campaigning near polling 
places.  Ruling party members in Bindura in Mashonaland 
Central province, which has seen long queues of voters, 
reportedly have been questioning voters about their selection 
and making notations on voter lists.  Embassy observers in 
Gwanda, near Bulawayo, reported that official MDC observers 
were not allowed into the polling place because their names 
were not on the proper list; ZANU-PF officials were allowed 
into the same station.  EU observers noted similar refusals 
for MDC officials in a number of polling stations nationwide. 
 
6.  (SBU) The most disconcerting report has been the possible 
disappearance of MDC candidate Siyabonga Ncube in Filabusi, 
near Bulawayo.  The constituency went to the MDC in the last 
election but has since been gerrymandered by the government 
to favor the ZANU-PF candidate and was considered a 
"toss-up."  According to MDC officials in the area, ZANU-PF 
members on Wednesday evening made "intimidating remarks" to 
Ncube.  Ncube then left the area, telling party members he 
would soon be back, but has not been heard from since.  The 
MDC's electoral hotline is reporting the disappearance as a 
likely case of government dirty tricks.  The MDC is 
attempting to verify Ncube,s welfare and whereabouts and has 
promised to let us know as soon as he is located. 
 
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CONCLUSION 
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7. (C) It is still much too early to say whether the MDC's 
forward momentum in recent weeks will translate into election 
results.  However, the lack of election day hi-jinks by 
ruling party members and government security forces is 
certainly a positive sign.  As Morgan Tsvangirai told the 
Ambassador and DCM late on March 30, knowing they are now a 
minority party, ZANU-PF supporters do not want to risk 
provocations. 
Dell