Johannesburg
28 March 2008
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has dissolved his Cabinet prior to national elections on Saturday. Nearly six million registered voters are due to go to the polls but the opposition says there already are signs of irregularities. Correspondent Scott Bobb reports from our Southern Africa Bureau in Johannesburg.
The dissolution of the Zimbabwean Cabinet officially paves the way for elections in which voters are to choose a president, national assembly, senate and local councils.
Tsvangirai has drawn considerable support from Zimbabweans unhappy over an economic crisis characterized by hyper-inflation, 80 percent unemployment and shortages of food, fuel and other basic goods.
"This is a government that has promoted hate; that cannot do anything for your problems," said Tsvangirai. "They can't keep the teachers in school. They can't keep food in the supermarket. They cannot provide medicine in the hospitals. Neither can they provide jobs for the wealth of our workers."
Makoni, a former finance minister who was expelled from Mr. Mugabe's ZANU-PF party after he declared his candidacy, is being backed by several senior ZANU-PF leaders. This has led some to say he may draw votes away from the president, which Mr. Mugabe dismissed.
"I say ahhh, you are cheating yourselves," said Makoni. "The people, the people have refused [to be cheated]."
In order to win, a candidate must receive at least half of the votes cast Saturday. If not, he must face the candidate with the second most votes in a runoff election within three weeks.