HARARE, Zimbabwe – Elections in Zimbabwe later this month have been decreed “off limits” to Western observers.  Believing Western countries are trying to remove him from government, Zimbabwe’s president Robert Mugabe instituted the ban.   Mugabe has been in power since 1980 when Zimbabwe gained its independence from Britain. Many people believe Mugabe’s “Zanu-PF” party to be poised to win again.  The two challengers, Simba Makoni and Morgan Tsvangirai, believe the government-imposed ban indicates that Zanu-PF has something to hide.

The army, through Defence Forces Commander Constantine Chiwenga, announced it would only back Mugabe in the upcoming election, calling the other two candidates “sell outs.”  “Elections are coming, and the army will not support or salute sell-outs and agents of the West before, during and after the presidential elects,” said Chiwenga.  In addition, army sources claim that soldiers have been instructed to take leave so that they could go to rural areas and stump for the Zanu PF campaign.

Despite the ban on western observers, African countries, as well as Zimbabwe’s allies China, Iran and Venezuela, will be allowed to monitor the elections.

BBC News – Zimbabwe bans Western observers – 7 March 2008

allAfrica.com – I’ll only salute Mugabe, Not Sell-Outs – Chiwenga – 9 March 2008