ZIMBABWE HUMAN RIGHTS NGO FORUM
IT’S THE COUNT THAT COUNTS: FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Reviewing the Pre-election Period in
Zimbabwe.
A report by the
Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum
March 2005
Introduction
There is a clear difference between the electoral climate preceding the current
2005 parliamentary elections on the one hand and the previous parliamentary
elections of 2000 and presidential elections of 2002 on the other. The latter
elections were characterised by an intense interest and excitement amongst
Zimbabwean voters. The present atmosphere around the current elections
appears muted in comparison. Furthermore, another unfortunate and salient
feature of the previous elections was systemic and endemic violence
perpetrated, in the main, by ZANU (PF) supporters 1 . There is a general
1
Who is Responsible? Politically motivated violence in Zimbabwe 2000-2001 (August 2001) issued by the
Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO forum.
1