The rest of the opinions were scattered. There were two opinion blocks of 8% each, which
reckoned more time was needed and they only want to see elections in 2012, or in 2013. 15%
stated that they ‘did not know’ when such an event should take place.14
A total of 40% of the respondents (by far the largest opinion block)15 felt that ‘Zimbabweans are
ready for elections’ [Q52A]. On the perceived readiness of the main political parties, 41% feel
that ZANU-PF was ready, compared with the 32% that believes the MDC-T as ready for elections.
ZANU-PF supporters, far more than those of the MDC-T, believe that Zimbabweans are ready for
elections:
ZANU-PF supporters: 59% say Zimbabweans are ready for elections; only 25% reckon
Zimbabweans are ‘not ready’ or ‘not ready at all’ for elections.
MDC-T supporters: Only 43% believe Zimbabweans are ‘ready’ for elections; 51% say
Zimbabweans are ‘not ready’ or ‘not ready at all’ for elections.
6.3 Memories of the 2008 elections
76% of the survey respondents report that they had voted in the March 2008 presidential and
parliamentary elections [Q56A]. In contrast, only 56% responded that they had cast a ballot in the June
2008 presidential run-off elections. Given the escalated and high levels of violence that characterised
the June 2008 elections, credence is lent to later survey respondent statements that voters may very
well abstain in 2011 elections if electoral violence resurfaces [Q56B].16
The respondents are certain that elections in 2011 will reopen the wounds of violence and fear that are
associated with previous election periods [Q47B].
Zimbabweans are deeply divided on whether the official result of the parliamentary election of March
2008 had been an accurate reflection of the will of the people – 36% said it was; 41% say it was not; 23%
go into the ‘don’t know’, ‘not sure’ or refuse response categories. The same was not assessed for the
2008 presidential run-off election, due to possible danger that the question could pose to MPOI
fieldworkers.
14
Working note: Cross-tabulation of these responses with expectations on violence will be inserted, as soon as the
requested information is received from MPOI.
15
The term ‘opinion block’ is used normally when there is not a majority opinion (and obviously not consensus) yet
there is one largely chunk of sub-majority opinion, which is much larger than any of the other cohering opinions.
16
It was reported in 2008, based on official statistics, that of the 5.9 million registered voters at the time, 42.8%
(2.5 million voters) had voted in the March presidential election, 40.9% (2.4 million voters) in the March
parliamentary election, and 42.8% (2.5 million voters) in the June 2008 presidential run-off election. See Susan
Booysen for the (then) Electoral Institute of Southern Africa (EISA), 2008, ‘The Zimbabwe harmonised elections of
29 March 2008, with postscript on the presidential run-off of 27 June 2008’, EISA Election Observer Mission
Report. Johannesburg: EISA.
53
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