Government said Wednesday it had put its security forces along the border with Zimbabwe on alert as the delayed announcement of results from Zimbabwe’s elections rattled nerves internationally.
The state of alert was a precautionary measure in case tensions caused by the four-day long wait for the election results erupted into violence and an influx of refugees into Zambia, Defence Minister George Mpombo said.
‘I hope our brothers in Zimbabwe will handle the situation without compromising the security of their country,’ he said. ‘We pray that the whole issue will be handled peacefully.’
The alert related to the border towns of Chirundu, Livingstone, Siavonga and other southern border areas, Mpombo said.
Livingstone tourist resort is just across the border from the Zimbabwean resort of Victoria Falls.
Security operations would continue as normal for the moment in those areas but would be strengthened if the situation escalated in order to protect Zambians living in border areas, he said.
Four days after Zimbabwe’s elections, in which President Robert Mugabe is seeking to extend his 28-year grip on power, no official results from the presidential elections have been released.
Partial results from the concomitant parliamentary vote show the opposition with a slight lead in the House of Assembly vote.
Aaaaaargh…. ! Nah, screaming’s better at this stage … aaaaaaaararrrrfghhhh!! aaaaraaghh !!!
if the scarce resources called RESULTS are not available soon,Zimbabweans can use their ingenuity and get them off the black market!
You can mobilize the 1977/78 ZNS graduates who threatened the Rhodesian army when late Ian Smith was the prime minister. I was one of those recruited from the UNZA to fight the rebels just prior to Zim independence in 1980 April. But now those are our brothers and sisters all we have to do is love. I feel sorrow for Mugabe’s close associates especially in military who don’t want to accept defeat. Mugabe should pack and go. Everything has its own time. Time has come for Mugabe to go who has run out of ideas of governing the country that used to be the bread basket of southern Africa. Is he not ashamed of himself? Mugabe chilikwa musemuse musa. Ask the Tongas the meaning.
#2 You dont need to feel sorrow for “Mugabe’s close associates, especially in the military” They have all done very well out of Mugabe’s regime. They now have lots of land and lots of money in Swiss bank accounts. Its the ones who were not his close associates that you should feel sorrow for.
ex zambian you sure talk sence. tell me… is this after you deserted Zambia?
Robert Mugabe was not a product of a University with a degree in Political Science. As a result of Britain’s Colonial and political hypocrisy, Mugabe was hatched out in the guerilla bushes of Rhodesia. While I do not condone his behaviour. his disgraceful exit from Zimbabwe in this election, shows Britain’s hands are soaked and dripping with the blood of deceit, duplicity and utter disgrace as to how it treated the blacks of its former colonies. Mugabe is a tormented man.
#4 Is this a compliment or a kick up the arse?
#2 Military has nothing to do with politics, they are simply supporting the govt of the day.
Mugabe has lost so he should accept defeat. If he had won he would have been screaming and jumping on mountain tops. He should just pack and go. He knows that he’ll be another chiluba …. Court furniture. Hope our Electrol Act has provided against such conduct by defeated leaders.
Mr Mpombo,thats a very good anticipation of future tasks,pliz deploy as many troops as possible coz anything can happen.
Short Live …Mugabe Short Live! Nkani yalula manje!!!
Power is sweet for sure, but one thing that is also true is that days are numbered for everyone. There certainly is a “Rise and Fall” for everyone, and too bad the drastic fall has come for you young Mugabe, Mr “8+4 year” old boy!
His quietness is a result of the horns of dilema in how to pack his katundu! Why not just swallow your stupid pride and accept defeat???
Ask Chiluba and KK … they know how strong voters are. Levy … I hope your eyes are wide open, with your Nepotism cases!
Whatever others can say about Zim Elections, my thanks and congratulations can only be extended to ZEC which has and is still showing maturity and impartiality. Though this might be said to be too early as other results are still in the dark rooms, I would say my comment should encourage ZEC that there are people out there who are appreciating their good work.
#11 you are simply out of your mind to think that ZEC is doing a good job. If the ZEC is doing a good job, how does the unpopular Tyrant Mugabe and his Party come out in dead-heat and neck-and-neck against strong popular opposition? It’s no wonder you Malawians were under Kamuzu for so long. You better update yourself on the current impasse in Zimbabwe. You know Mugabe has lost Presidential elections but ZEC can’t say that. I am sure you heard that mugabe is now resorting to victimization of the opposition and journalists. Despotic Mugabe has gone too far with his cruelty to the Zimbabwean people. People ,rise up like the Romanians did many years ago.
In Africa we are going miles backward in our democratic tenets. All because of having selfish, bigheaded, obsinate ,head strong and stiff-necked, old, tired but not retired leaders. Look at the Kenyan situation,a 76-year old man in the name of Kibaki put the lives of every kenyan, including young ones on the knife edge.Thanks God they have will amke a coalition government. But i still think that is not enough as bad president has already been set for other selfish and unrealistic african leaders. And I blame this on the international community, especially western world who are fond of taking double standards on such issues.Kibaki should not have been allowed to get away with it.Cont..
The interantional comunity could have pressurised Kibaki to ensure a re-run of the elections which most kenyans, africans and western observers believed taht he had lost.Thie Kenyan presidence will cause problems else where in africa, in other words we may never hold free and fair elections in Africa. I am not talking from without, as Just two months ago The Malawan President Mbingu Wamutariak was reportred in one local paper to have said:’I will pull a Kibaki’ whilst drunk. This he meant rigging future elctions in Malawi.
CONTINUED…..
This now brings me to the current thorny issue of delay of announcing presidential elections in now hunger-stricken and politically unstable Zimbabwe. It is an open secret the Octarian or the 84-year old Mugabe lost those elctions but i just wnat to take a leaf from the kenyan case study.He also what to pull a kibaki.The international community should do everthing withing their means including deployment of forces in a likely even that things fall apart in Zimbawe.The worst thing now is other countries like Zambia are being affected negatively.
hmmmmmmmmmm. I am tired of this!