2008 World University Cycling Championship, Cycling disciplines, Mountain biking (cross-country, marathon)
The mountain bike competitions at the 2008 World University Cycling Championship were held at 22 and 24 May 2008. Athletes competed in the disciplines cross-country and marathon. 26 men athletes competed in the marathon and 32 in the cross-country. The competitions took place in the wooded areas of Groesbeek, nearby the German Reichswald. The mountain bike track was specially made for this championship.


2008 World University Cycling Championship, Medal table
The mountain bike marathon events are not included in the medal table.


2008 World University Cycling Championship – Women's road race
The Women's road race at the 2008 World University Cycling Championship took place on 25 May 2008 in Nijmegen, Netherlands. The race was 96.3 km long.


2008 World University Cycling Championship – Women's road race
Ellen van Dijk, who won the title in 2006 (and was still a student) did not defend her title.


2008 World University Squash Championship
The 2008 World University Squash Championship is the edition of the 2008's World University Squash, which serves as the individual world squash championship for students. The event took place in Cairo in Egypt from 22 August to 28 August.


2008 World Wheelchair Curling Championship
The 2008 World Wheelchair Curling Championship was held from February 2 to 9 at the Eishalle Sursee in Sursee, Switzerland.


2008 World Wheelchair Curling Championship, Qualification, Qualification event
Two teams outside of the top finishers, Sweden and Italy, qualified from a qualifying event held in November 2007 in Inverness, Scotland.


2008 World Wheelchair Curling Championship, Teams
Skip : Gerry AustgardenSecond: Ina ForrestLead: Sonja GaudetAlternate: Gary CormackCoach: Joe Rea


2008 World Wheelchair Curling Championship, Teams
Third: Egidio MarcheseSecond: Gabriele DallapiccolaLead: Lucrezia CelentanoAlternate: Danilo DestroCoach: Mauro Maino


2008 World Wheelchair Curling Championship, Teams
Third: Katsuo IchikawaSecond: Takashi HidaiLead: Ayako SaitohAlternate: Mari YamazakiCoach: Kumiko Ogihara


2008 World Wheelchair Curling Championship, Teams
Third: Jostein StordahlSecond: Geir Arne SkogstadLead: Lene TystadAlternate: Anne Mette SamdalCoach: Thoralf Hognestad


2008 World Wheelchair Curling Championship, Teams
Third: Nikolay MelnikovSecond: Marat RomanovLead: Oxana SlesarenkoAlternate: Oleg MakarovCoach: Efim Zhidelev


2008 World Wheelchair Curling Championship, Teams
Third: Aileen NeilsonSecond: Tom KillinLead: James SellarAlternate: Rosemary LentonCoach: Tom Pendreigh


2008 World Wheelchair Curling Championship, Teams
Third: Kim Myung-jinSecond: Cho Yang-hyunLead: Kang Mi-sukAlternate: Ham Dong-heeCoach: Kwon Young-il


2008 World Wheelchair Curling Championship, Teams
Third: Glenn IkonenSecond: Bernt SjöbergLead: Kristina UlanderAlternate: Anna HammarlindCoach: Olle Brudsten


2008 World Wheelchair Curling Championship, Teams
Third: Erwin LauperSecond: Cesare CassaniLead: Madeleine WildiAlternate: Therese KämpferCoach: Nadia Röthlisberger-Raspe


2008 World Wheelchair Curling Championship, Teams
Skip : Augusto PerezSecond: James JosephLead: Jacqueline KapinowskiAlternate: Bob PrenoveauCoach: Steve Brown


2008 World Wheelchair Curling Championship – Qualification Event
The qualification event for the 2008 World Wheelchair Curling Championship was held from November 5 to 9, 2007 in Inverness, Scotland. The event's two top finishers, Germany and China, both qualified to participate in the 2008 World Wheelchair Curling Championship. The two qualification spots were given to the top two teams at the conclusion of the round robin.


2008 World Women's Curling Championship
The 2008 World Women's Curling Championship (branded as 2008 Ford World Women's Curling Championship for sponsorship reasons) was held from March 22 to March 30, 2008 at the Wesbild Centre in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada. This championship also served as one of the qualifiers for the 2010 Winter Olympics.


2008 World Women's Curling Championship, Teams
Skip : Jennifer Jones Third: Cathy Overton-Clapham Second: Jill Officer Lead: Dawn Askin Alternate: Jennifer Clark-Rouire


2008 World Women's Curling Championship, Teams
Skip : Wang Bingyu Third: Liu Yin Second: Yue Qingshuang Lead: Zhou Yan Alternate: Liu Jinli


2008 World Women's Curling Championship, Teams
Skip : Lenka Černovská* Fourth: Kateřina Urbanová Second: Jana Šafaříková Lead: Sára Jahodová Alternate: Jana Šimmerová (*Throws third rocks)


2008 World Women's Curling Championship, Teams
Skip : Angelina Jensen* Fourth: Madeleine Dupont Third: Denise Dupont Lead: Camilla Jensen Alternate: Ane Hansen (*Throws second rocks)


2008 World Women's Curling Championship, Teams
Skip : Andrea Schöpp Third: Monika Wagner Second: Anna Hartelt Lead: Marie-Therese Rotter Alternate: Melanie Robillard


2008 World Women's Curling Championship, Teams
Skip : Diana Gaspari Third: Giorgia Apollonio Second: Elettra De Col Lead: Violetta Caldart Alternate: Lucrezia Laurenti


2008 World Women's Curling Championship, Teams
Skip : Moe Meguro Third: Mari Motohashi Second: Mayo Yamaura Lead: Kotomi Ishizaki Alternate: Anna Ohmiya


2008 World Women's Curling Championship, Teams
Skip : Ludmila Privivkova Third: Olga Jarkova Second: Nkeiruka Ezekh Lead: Ekaterina Galkina Alternate: Margarita Fomina


2008 World Women's Curling Championship, Teams
Skip : Gail Munro Third: Lyndsay Wilson Second: Karen Addison Lead: Anne Laird Alternate: Lynn Cameron


2008 World Women's Curling Championship, Teams
Skip : Stina Viktorsson Third: Maria Prytz Second: Maria Wennerström Lead: Margaretha Sigfridsson Alternate: Sabina Kraupp


2008 World Women's Curling Championship, Teams
Skip : Mirjam Ott Third: Carmen Schäfer Second: Valeria Spälty Lead: Janine Greiner Alternate: Carmen Küng


2008 World Women's Curling Championship, Teams
Skip : Debbie McCormick Third: Allison Pottinger Second: Nicole Joraanstad Lead: Natalie Nicholson Alternate: Tracy Sachtjen


2008 World Women's Curling Championship, Broadcasts
Seven broadcasters presented the games both live and tape-delayed via television and the internet. Eurosport (Europe), NHK (Japan), TSN and CBC (Canada), WCSN and NBCOlympics.com (USA) and CurlTV.com (internet).


2008 World Wrestling Championships
The 2008 World Wrestling Championships were held at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan. The event took place from October 11 to October 13, 2008. The competition only featured wrestling in the Female Freestyle event. Traditionally, Wrestling World Championships are not held in Olympic years, but in 2008 a female championship was held because the 2008 Summer Olympics included only four of the seven FILA weight classes for females.


2008 World Wrestling Championships – Women's freestyle 48 kg
The women's freestyle 48 kilograms is a competition featured at the 2008 World Wrestling Championships, and was held at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan on 12 October.


2008 World Wrestling Championships – Women's freestyle 51 kg
The women's freestyle 51 kilograms is a competition featured at the 2008 World Wrestling Championships, and was held at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan on 11 October.


2008 World Wrestling Championships – Women's freestyle 55 kg
The women's freestyle 55 kilograms is a competition featured at the 2008 World Wrestling Championships, and was held at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan on 13 October.


2008 World Wrestling Championships – Women's freestyle 59 kg
The women's freestyle 59 kilograms is a competition featured at the 2008 World Wrestling Championships, and was held at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan on 11 October.


2008 World Wrestling Championships – Women's freestyle 63 kg
The women's freestyle 63 kilograms is a competition featured at the 2008 World Wrestling Championships, and was held at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan on 12 October.


2008 World Wrestling Championships – Women's freestyle 67 kg
The women's freestyle 67 kilograms is a competition featured at the 2008 World Wrestling Championships, and was held at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan on 11 October.


2008 World Wrestling Championships – Women's freestyle 72 kg
The women's freestyle 72 kilograms is a competition featured at the 2008 World Wrestling Championships, and was held at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan on 13 October.


2008 World's Strongest Man
The 2008 World's Strongest Man was the 31st edition of World's Strongest Man and was won by Mariusz Pudzianowski from Poland. It was his fifth and record breaking title. Derek Poundstone from the United States finished second, and Dave Ostlund also from the United States finished third after finishing sixth the previous year. The contest was held at Charleston, West Virginia.


2008 Worthing Borough Council election
The 2008 Worthing Borough Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Worthing Borough Council in West Sussex, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative Party stayed in overall control of the council. Overall turnout was 35%.


2008 Worthing Borough Council election
Candidates from five political parties took part in the election from the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, British National Party, Labour and United Kingdom Independence Party and one candidate standing on a "Stop! Durrington's Overdevelopment – Save Titnore's Trees" platform. The results of the election were declared at a joint count with Adur council, the first time such a joint count had taken place in West Sussex. The count saw an incident where one candidate, Dawn Smith, was arrested after some of her supporters were prevented from entering the count.


2008 Worthing Borough Council election
The results saw the Conservatives gain three seats to increase their majority on the council. They gained Broadwater ward from the Liberal Democrats, and also Goring where the previous councillor had defected from the Conservatives to the Liberal Democrats. The third Conservative gain was in Offington where the previous councillor, Mark McCarthy, had been elected as a Conservative, but had resigned to sit as an independent Conservative. The Liberal Democrats did make one gain when they took Selden ward, where the previous Conservative councillor had stood down.


2008 Wyoming Cowboys football team
The 2008 Wyoming Cowboys football team represented the University of Wyoming in the 2008 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head coach was Joe Glenn, who was in his sixth year at Wyoming. They played their home games at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, Wyoming and competed in the Mountain West Conference. Glenn was fired on November 23, after six seasons. Dave Christensen, the offensive coordinator from Missouri accepted the job as head coach on November 30.


2008 Wyoming Cowboys football team, Game summaries, Ohio
In the opening game of the 2008 season, the Cowboys would down the Ohio Bobcats at home 21-20. In the first quarter, Ohio would score first on a 4-yard Theo Scott touchdown pass to Andrew Mooney, only to have to Cowboys answer with a 6-yard Devin Moore touchdown run to knot the game at 7-7 entering the second quarter. In the second, Wyoming would open the scoring with a 3-yard Dax Crum touchdown pass to J. Salyards and take a 14-7 lead.


2008 Wyoming Cowboys football team, Game summaries, Ohio
The Bobcats would answer with 10 consecutive points on a 100-yard Donte Harden kickoff return, and a 31-yard Barrett Way field goal in taking a 17-14 halftime lead. After a scoreless third, Ohio would extend its lead to 20-14 after converting a 34-yard Way field goal. The Cowboys would respond with what turned out to be the game-winning touchdown midway through the fourth on a 23-yard Crum touchdown pass to Donate Morgan to win by a final score of 21-20.


2008 Wyoming Cowboys football team, Game summaries, Air Force
In the Mountain West opener, the Cowboys would surrender 20 unanswered, second half points in this 23-3 loss to the Falcons. After a scoreless first, the Cowboys would respond to an Air Force field goal with a 47-yard Jake Scott field goal late in the second to tie the game at 3-3 going into the half for their only points on the afternoon.


2008 Wyoming Cowboys football team, Game summaries, North Dakota State
After falling behind in the third quarter by a score of 13-0 to the FCS Bison, the Cowboys would rally back with 16 unanswered points in taking a 16-13 victory at home. Midway through the third, the Cowboys would score their first points on a 2-yard Devin Moore touchdown run to close the gap to 13-7. Kicker Jake Scott would then provide the remainder of scoring on a pair of 28-yard field goals, and a third from 29-yards with only :04 seconds remaining in the contest to take the win.


2008 Wyoming Cowboys football team, Game summaries, BYU
With two defensive touchdowns and outgaining the Cowboys 364-273 yards in total offense, the 14th ranked BYU Cougars were dominant in this 44-0 shutout at Provo.


2008 Wyoming Democratic presidential caucuses
The 2008 Wyoming Democratic presidential caucuses were a series of events designed to determine the delegates that the Wyoming Democratic Party sent to the 2008 Democratic National Convention. The party was allocated seven pledged delegates to presidential candidates on March 8 during the Wyoming Democratic County Caucuses. The remaining five pledged delegates were allocated on May 24 during the Wyoming Democratic State Convention. There were six Wyoming superdelegates, so the whole delegation was composed of 18 delegates.


2008 Wyoming Democratic presidential caucuses, Process
The Wyoming caucus were open to all eligible voters who were registered as Democrats by February 22, 2008. A 15 percent threshold was required in order to receive delegates at any caucus site. Rather than the traditional caucus format, most sites used secret ballots which were then counted and delegates apportioned, without re-caucusing of nonviable groups.


2008 Wyoming Republican presidential caucuses
The 2008 Wyoming Republican presidential caucuses took place on January 5, 2008, with 12 national delegates chosen by county convention delegates. A majority of the national delegates were won by former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney. In addition, two national delegates were elected at the Republican State Convention on May 30–31.


2008 Wyoming Republican presidential caucuses
Eligible voters included precinct committee chairs (one man and one woman for each of the 487 precincts, which were elected in 2006) and 250 county convention delegates, elected in precinct caucuses held throughout Wyoming in December 2007 and apportioned according to Republican voters in the last congressional election.


2008 Wyoming Republican presidential caucuses
Although originally the size of the delegation was 28, RNC rules stated that any states holding primary contests before February 5 would lose half of their delegates.


2008 Wyoming Republican presidential caucuses, Results
Each of the 23 counties elected either a delegate or an alternate delegate, except for Laramie County, which elected both a delegate and an alternate delegate.


2008 Wyoming Republican presidential caucuses, Results, Results by County
The Wyoming Republican Party did not release the vote totals.


2008 Wyre Forest District Council election
The 2008 Wyre Forest District Council election took place on 1 May 2008 to elect members of Wyre Forest District Council in Worcestershire, England. One third of the council was up for election and the Conservative Party gained overall control of the council from no overall control.


2008 Wyre Forest District Council election, Campaign
Before the election the Conservatives ran the council as a minority administration with them holding 18 seats, as compared to 10 for Health Concern, 7 Liberals, 3 Labour, 2 Liberal Democrats and 2 independents. 14 seats were contested at the election with the Conservatives defending 6, Liberals 3, independents 2 and Health Concern, Labour and Liberal Democrats 1 each.


2008 Wyre Forest District Council election, Campaign
The Conservatives needed to gain 4 seats to win a majority, but Health Concern were also hoping to make gains to take over as largest party on the council. Health Concern campaigned on issues including bringing more entertainment facilities to the council area and opposing a new fleet of black taxis, as well as their health policies.


2008 Wyre Forest District Council election, Election result
The Conservatives won a majority on the council for the first time since 1979, after gaining 4 more seats to end the election with 22 councillors, while Health Concern stayed second with 10 seats. Among the Conservative gains were Mumshad Ahmed in Broadwaters ward, who became the first Asian councillor in Wyre Forest, and Julian Phillips in Bewdley and Arley, who became a councillor at the age of 23. Both Labour and the Liberals lost one seat to the Conservatives, while the two independent councillors were defeated.


2008 Wyre Forest District Council election, Election result
The Conservatives described the results as an endorsement of their record, while Labour saw them as being due to anti-government feeling. The results were also reported as being a sign that the Conservatives could gain the parliamentary constituency at the next general election from Health Concern's Richard Taylor.


2008 Wyre Forest District Council election, By-elections between 2008 and 2010, Lickhill
A by-election was held in Lickhill on 10 September 2009 after the death of Health Concern councillor Jill Fairbrother-Millis. The seat was held for Health Concern by Jim Parish with a majority of 131 votes over Conservative Chris Rogers.


2008 Wyre Forest District Council election, By-elections between 2008 and 2010, Areley Kings
A by-election was held in Areley Kings on 10 December 2009 after the death of Conservative councillor Mike Partridge. The seat was gained for Labour by James Shaw with a majority of 123 votes over Health Concern candidate Gary Talbot.


2008 XL Bermuda Open
The 2008 XL Bermuda Open was an ATP Challenger Series tournament. It took place in Paget, Bermuda, from April 21 to April 27, 2008.


2008 XL Bermuda Open – Doubles
This is the draw for the 2008 XL Bermuda Open doubles competition. Marcelo Melo and André Sá were the defending champions, but did not participate.


2008 XL Bermuda Open – Singles
In the 2008 XL Bermuda Open Mariano Zabaleta was the defending champion.


2008 Yale Bulldogs football team
The 2008 Yale Bulldogs football team represented Yale University in the 2008 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bulldogs were led by 12th-year head coach Jack Siedlecki, played their home games at the Yale Bowl and finished tied for first place in the Ivy League with a 4–3 record, 6–4 overall.


2008 Yevpatoria gas explosion
Coordinates: The 2008 Yevpatoria gas explosion took place on December 24, 2008 with an explosion in an apartment block in Yevpatoria, a Ukrainian Black Sea resort town. Within hours, the death toll stood at 22 with 10 missing. On December 26 the total number of deaths was 27 people. President Viktor Yushchenko declared December 26 to be a day of national mourning.


2008 Yevpatoria gas explosion, Government reaction
On 27 December 2008 the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers ordered the central government agencies and the Yevpatoria administration to provide the victims of the blast and the families of those killed with new housing and all financial compensations they are entitled to by January 1, 2009. The Education and Science Ministry has been instructed to make sure that the children from the families who suffered from the incident be provided with free school instruction.


2008 Yevpatoria gas explosion, Government reaction
The government also ordered that tougher control measures be taken in the gas supply industry to prevent new accidents.


2008 Yevpatoria gas explosion, Gas explosions trend
A similar gas explosion in Dnipropetrovsk on October 2007, killed 23 victims.


2008 Yevpatoria gas explosion, Gas explosions trend
Gas explosions in crumbling apartment buildings are often caused by improper use or a poorly maintained infrastructure. They are common occurrences in former Soviet states, particularly in the winter, when residents use more heating.


2008 Yingjiang earthquakes
The 2008 Yingjiang earthquakes were a series of major earthquakes ranging from surface wave magnitude (Ms) 4.1 to 5.9 that struck Yingjiang County, Yunnan province, China between August 19 (in UTC; August 20 local time) and September 3. It caused 5 deaths, 21 serious injuries, and RMB 2.7 billion in direct economic damage. USGS put the magnitude of the strongest one to Mw 6.0.


2008 Yingjiang earthquakes, Earthquake details
According to the China Earthquake Administration (CEA) and its subordinate  (CENC), a Ms 5.0 earthquake struck Yingjiang County, Yunnan province, China on August 20, 2008 at 05:35:09 China Standard Time (CST – 2135 UTC, August 19, 2008). A CEA report published on September 17 described two additional strong quakes of Ms 4.9 and Ms 5.9 in the same area the following day; CENC's data base, on the other hand, did not include the earthquake of Ms 4.9 at 20:20 CST on August 21 as the CEA report described, but reveals additional ones after the date.


2008 Yingjiang earthquakes, Earthquake details, Sequence of earthquakes
Note: Earthquakes #4 and after are not included in CEA summary; earthquake #2 is unaccounted for in CENC data base.


2008 Yingjiang earthquakes, Response, casualties, and intensities
According to CEA, these earthquakes caused 5 deaths and 21 serious injuries. Through  (YNEA), the provincial government invoked Level IV emergence response protocol in the relief. Affected people amounted to 209,605, roughly 2/3 of the total population in affected areas. Direct financial damage amounted to RMB 1.3 billion. In addition to building damage, the heaviest infrastructure damage occurred to water resources facilities.


2008 Yingjiang earthquakes, Response, casualties, and intensities
On the seismic intensity map published by CEA, maximum intensity of these earthquakes reached liedu VIII on China Seismic Intensity Scale (CSIS), which is somewhat equivalent to VIII (Heavily damaging) on EMS-94 from which CSIS drew reference. Liedu-VIII zone spans 26 km2 near the epicenter. Total area of liedu VI (Slightly damaging) and above is a north-south oval of 4,511 km2.


2008 Ykkönen
League tables for teams participating in Ykkönen, the second tier of the Finnish Soccer League system, in 2008.


2008 Ykkönen, League table, Promotion Play-Offs
KuPS as 13th placed team in the 2008 Veikkausliiga and FC Viikingit as runners-up of the 2008 Ykkönen competed in a two-legged play-off for a place in the Veikkausliiga. KuPS won the play-offs by 2-1 on aggregate and remained in Veikkausliiga.


2008 Ykkönen, League table, Promotion Play-Offs
Viikingit Helsinki - KuPS Kuopio   1-2KuPS Kuopio - Viikingit Helsinki   0-0


2008 Zambian presidential election
Presidential elections were held in Zambia on 30 October 2008 following the death of the incumbent President Levy Mwanawasa on 19 August 2008, as the elections had to be called within 90 days of his death. It was expected that there would be internal problems within the ruling Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) as Mwanawasa had not declared a successor prior to his death, but Acting President Rupiah Banda was selected as the MMD's candidate without apparent problems. Michael Sata stood as the candidate of the Patriotic Front (PF), while Hakainde Hichilema stood as the candidate of the United Party for National Development (UPND). Godfrey Miyanda stood as the candidate of the Heritage Party.


2008 Zambian presidential election
The elections were held to determine who should serve out the remainder of Mwanawasa's presidential term, which ended in 2011, rather than for a full five-year term. The elections were decided in a single round on a first-past-the-post basis.


2008 Zambian presidential election
Final results were announced on 2 November 2008, giving Banda the victory with 40.6% of the vote against 38.6% for Sata. Banda was promptly sworn in on the same day.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Background
Following Mwanawasa's death, some questioned whether it would be financially possible for the Electoral Commission of Zambia to hold the elections within the designated timeframe. It was also suggested that it would be necessary to hold the election without updating the voters' roll, but using an outdated voters' roll could cause complications during an election. The Electoral Commission decided to use the voters' roll from the 2006 elections due to lack of time. A group called Anti-


2008 Zambian presidential election, Background
Vote Rigging, which was aligned with the opposition, took the matter to the High Court, seeking a decision that would force the Electoral Commission to "register new voters ahead of the elections because most people will be defranchised". The High Court ruled on 14 October that it was acceptable to use the old voters' roll due to time constraints.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Background
At a press conference on 5 September, Sata demanded that a date for the elections be announced. Acting President Rupiah Banda announced on 9 September that the elections would be held on 30 October 2008.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Background
The Electoral Commission set a budget of 240 billion kwacha (about US$75 million) for the elections, and the United Nations Development Programme said that it would contribute US$11.5 million. By 9 September, many provinces had received electoral materials being distributed by the Electoral Commission.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Background
The Electoral Commission printed 600,000 more ballot papers than needed, saying that they would be used as substitute ballots in case of voter mistakes. The opposition objected to the printing of the extra ballot papers, arguing that they could facilitate vote rigging and calling for them to be destroyed. The Electoral Commission asked the four presidential candidates to attend a meeting on 15 October to discuss the issue.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Background
In response to allegations from the opposition that there were plans to rig the elections in Banda's favour, Florence Mumba, the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, said on 22 October that the commission was committed to "a credible and acceptable" election and that any complaints regarding the elections would be investigated.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Campaign
On 27 September 2008, Chief Justice Ernest Sakala announced that four candidates had validly filed and would stand in the elections; Banda for the MMD, Sata for the PF, Hichilema for the UPND, and Miyanda for the Heritage Party. Banda and Sata were considered the frontrunners. Two opinion polls conducted before the elections showed Sata in the lead; one of them was conducted by the Kenya-based Steadman Group, and it showed Sata with 40% support and Banda with 29% support. The MMD released a poll on 29 October that placed Banda's support at 42–46% and Sata's support at 31–35%.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Campaign, MMD
Acting President Rupiah Banda, who succeeded Mwanawasa due to his position as vice-president, was the MMD candidate.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Campaign, MMD
There were initially disagreements in the MMD regarding the party's presidential candidate. The party's Chairman for Information and Publicity, Benny Tetamashimba, argued that Rupiah Banda should be the candidate in an interview on 24 August. He claimed wide support for this in the party and praised Banda's "high leadership qualities". On the same day, however, Northern Province Minister Lameck Chibombamilimo argued in favour of Mwanawasa's wife, Maureen Mwanawasa, becoming the MMD candidate.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Campaign, MMD
According to Chibombamilimo, "her developmental work scattered throughout the country and her leadership at the continental level where she has led her fellow first ladies in the fight against HIV/AIDS" demonstrated that she had the ability to serve as president. Banda filed his application to run as the party's candidate on 26 August. The MMD in Eastern Province issued a statement supporting his candidacy, and politicians such as Vernon Mwaanga and Mbita Chitala also stated their support; according to Chitala, Banda had the support of most members of the MMD National Executive Committee.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Campaign, MMD
Finance Minister Ng'andu Magande also applied to be the MMD's candidate on 25 August, saying that he was "eminently qualified" because he had "rich experience in managing state operations both internationally and locally". Former Vice-President Enoch Kavindele and former Minister of Works and Supply Ludwig Sondashi also applied. Katele Kalumba and Michael Mabenga did not apply; Tetamashimba praised their decision, saying that it would "enhance unity in the party".


2008 Zambian presidential election, Campaign, MMD
Sondashi called for the MMD candidate to be decided through secret voting, while Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe called for the candidate to be decided at a party convention and not a meeting of the National Executive Committee, as a convention would allow broader participation in the process. According to Munkombwe, Mwanawasa was nearly beaten by Anderson Masoka in the 2001 presidential election because he had been essentially "handpicked" by the MMD National Executive Committee.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Campaign, MMD
It was reported on 31 August that thirteen politicians had filed to run as the MMD's candidate: Maxwell Mwamba, Pastor Nyirongo, former Vice-President Enoch Kavindele, Acting President Rupiah Banda, former Vice-President Nevers Mumba, Home Affairs Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha, MMD Chairperson for Commerce and Trade Sebastian Kopulande, Finance Minister Ng'andu Magande, Charles Ngesa, Billy Phiri, Martin Chama, former Constitution Review Commission (CRC) chairperson Wila Mung'omba and former Works and Supply Minister Ludwig Sondashi. Ultimately there were 19 candidates.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Campaign, MMD
The MMD National Executive Committee chose Rupiah Banda as the party's presidential candidate in a secret ballot on 5 September 2008. He had been widely expected to win, and he received 47 votes against 11 for Magande. On this occasion, Banda promised to "unite the party and the entire nation" and to "continue implementing [Mwanawasa's] programs", while expressing gratitude for the support he had received. Magande's unsuccessful candidacy was said to have been favoured by Maureen Mwanawasa.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Campaign, MMD
Two smaller parties, the United Liberal Party and the All People's Congress, chose to support Banda's candidacy.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Campaign, MMD
Banda launched his campaign on 18 September. On this occasion, he praised Mwanawasa's liberal economic policies, saying that they had "made us one of the most stable countries on the African continent", and he promised to continue those policies if he was elected. Shortly before the elections, he announced a 75% reduction in the price of fertilizer; this was considered a populist move intended to buttress his rural support.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Campaign, MMD
Speaking on 24 October, Independence Day, Banda said that the country could "look to the future with hope because even when prophets of doom were predicting chaos following the death of Mwanawasa, Zambians were united in ensuring that the due process of the law is observed as we prepare for his successor". He called for a high turnout in the elections.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Campaign, MMD
In reaction to Sata's statement that he would reject the results if he lost, Banda urged his opponents to accept the results on 27 October, warning that anyone who incited violence in the wake of the elections could face arrest.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Campaign, PF
Michael Sata, the leader of the opposition Patriotic Front, stood as the PF candidate in the elections. He was unanimously chosen as the party's candidate at a meeting of its Central Committee on 30 August 2008. Accepting the nomination, he expressed the need "to scrub this country and wash it"; he also said that he would refrain from campaigning until after Mwanawasa's funeral. Although he suffered a heart attack in April 2008, Sata said that he was healthy and in good condition. He said on 8 September that he would protect Chinese investments if he was elected, abandoning the hostility towards Chinese investment that he had expressed during the 2006 presidential election campaign.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Campaign, PF
On 15 October, Sata said that, if elected, he would require foreign investors to reserve at least 25% of the shares in their companies for Zambians, with the penalty of losing their licenses if they did not do so. Sata also said that he would reduce taxes on government employees and improve housing, rural industries, and agriculture.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Campaign, PF
Prior to the elections, Sata stated that he would not accept the results if they showed that he was defeated, believing that he could not legitimately lose. Supporters of Sata in Livingstone set up a roadblock on 28 October to halt trucks that they believed might be transporting pre-marked ballots from South Africa into the country through Zimbabwe; they were dispersed by police with tear gas. The Electoral Commission said that the trucks only contained lamps and batteries. At his last rally of the campaign, held in Lusaka on 29 October, Sata denied that he was seeking to incite unrest, but he remained unwilling to state ahead of time that he would accept the results.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Campaign, PF
There were some concerns about Sata's health; although he appeared vigorous in the period leading up to the elections, he suffered a heart attack in April 2008 and had to be evacuated to South Africa.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Campaign, UPND
The PF and United Party for National Development were reportedly in talks over an electoral pact in August. However, the UPND decided to contest the elections alone, with UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema as the party's candidate. Hichilema promised free health care for all citizens, free primary and secondary education, and improved housing. Some commentators felt he was too young and inexperienced for the presidency, and the UPND was criticised as a tribally-based party. Hichilema said before the elections that if electoral fraud occurred, there would be "severe consequences".


2008 Zambian presidential election, Campaign, UNIP
United National Independence Party (UNIP) Deputy Secretary-General Alfred Banda said that UNIP would contest the elections with Tilyenji Kaunda as its candidate, according to The Post on 26 August. UNIP's Information and Publicity Secretary for Copperbelt Province, Brian Chishimba, had previously said that the party would not present a candidate due to internal disagreements, but Alfred Banda dismissed this statement. However, UNIP ultimately did not present a candidate in the elections.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Conduct
The South African Development Community (SADC), the African Union and the European Union were invited to send election observers. The EU did not send observers due to the tight timeframe.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Conduct
Voting began at 6:00 in the morning on 30 October, and was scheduled to end 12 hours later. Sata voted in central Lusaka and "emphatically" reiterated that he would not accept a victory for Banda, saying that there was "no way MMD can win". He also alleged that the Electoral Commission and the police were working together to rig the elections. An apparent attempt at fraud was reported in Lusaka, where an election officer was arrested after he was found carrying an envelope containing ballots that were pre-marked in favour of Banda.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Conduct
Catholic priest Frank Bwalya was arrested on 12 November and charged with incitement of violence based on a broadcast on Radio Icengelo, which discussed matters related to the elections; he was arrested after refusing to halt the broadcast. In response to the arrest, PF supporters in Kitwe protested violently; they were dispersed with tear gas and 38 people were arrested on 13 November. Bwalya was released on bail on the same day.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Results
According to early results from 19 of the 150 constituencies on 31 October, Sata had 60% of the vote and Banda had almost 31%. Later in the day, results from 43 constituencies showed Sata leading with 50.6% to Banda's 33.8%. The early results were mainly from urban constituencies, where the PF enjoyed strong support; the MMD's support was primarily based in rural areas. As voting continued on 31 October, results from 60 constituencies gave Sata a smaller lead: 43.8% against Banda's 34.1%. Hichilema, meanwhile, had 13.8%, and Miyanda had 0.6%.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Results
With results from 93 constituencies counted, Sata had 41% to Banda's 37%, with Hichilema at 20%. According to the Electoral Commission and African Union observers, voting went well and there were no major problems. An MMD prediction on television that Banda would defeat Sata by a 60,000 vote margin led the PF to allege that the prediction was part of an effort to manipulate the results.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Results
Early on 1 November, results from 102 constituencies showed Sata still narrowly ahead with 40% against 38% for Banda. As votes continued to be counted, results from 108 constituencies placed Sata at 39.8%, Banda at 37.9%, Hichilema at 20.3%, and Miyanda at 0.8%. Results from the afternoon, with 137 constituencies counted, showed Sata leading with 39.9% to Banda's 39.1%, while Hichilema had 19% and Miyanda had 0.7%. The PF asked for vote counting to be stopped to allow for an investigation into irregularities. On the same day, the SADC observer mission endorsed the elections as "credible, peaceful, well-managed and transparent".


2008 Zambian presidential election, Results
Results from the evening of 1 November, with 148 constituencies counted, showed Banda leading with 40.0% to Sata's 38.5%, Hichilema at 19.5% and Miyanda at 0.8%. Complaining of irregularities, the PF did not accept the results and stated that it would go to the courts to seek a recount. Final results were announced on 2 November 2008, confirming Banda's victory with 40.6% of the vote against 38.6% for Sata. Banda was promptly sworn in at State House on the same day, using his speech on the occasion to call for unity. Turnout was placed at 45%; the use of the outdated voters roll reportedly reduced participation, as some people were unable to vote.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Results
When Banda overtook Sata in the results, Sata's supporters in parts of Lusaka began rioting on 1 November, and riots also broke out in Kitwe on the next day. The Foundation for Democratic Process, a non-governmental organization that conducted its own vote count, said that its results matched the results given by the Electoral Commission. The PF said on 3 November that it wanted a recount, subject to independent verification, to be held in 78 constituencies. Hichilema alleged fraud as well, but he said that he did not plan to present a legal challenge to the results.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Results
Speaking on South African radio on 4 November, Sata denied that he had been defeated and stated: "Rupiah Banda has no vision, Rupiah Banda has no platform. The only platform Rupiah Banda is on is cheating." On 5 November, the Electoral Commission said that only a verification exercise, not a recount, would be conducted. It said that the verification exercise was a matter of standard procedure, but that a recount would require a court order. Within two days, the verification exercise was suspended in Lusaka after a physical altercation between members of the MMD and the PF. A member of the MMD alleged that Sata punched him during this brawl, but the PF disputed the claim.


2008 Zambian presidential election, Aftermath
In a cabinet reshuffle on 14 November, Banda dismissed five ministers. He appointed George Kunda as vice president and chose Situmbeko Musokotwane to replace Finance Minister Ng'andu Magande.


2008 Zanzibar power blackout
The 2008 Zanzibar Power blackout was an extensive power outage on Zanzibar, Tanzania.


2008 Zanzibar power blackout
A similar and longer event happened in Zanzibar in 2009. The island was without power for more than three months.


2008 Zanzibar power blackout
During May and June 2008, Zanzibar suffered a period of almost one month without mains electricity due to a grid failure which left the entire island dependent on alternative methods of electricity generation (mainly diesel generators). Power failed on 21 May 2008 after a wide-area grid failure across the Tanzanian network was followed by a power surge which damaged the submarine interconnector cable that links the Tanzanian mainland and Zanzibar.


2008 Zanzibar power blackout
The power was eventually restored on 19 June 2008, however, concerns remained about the fragility of the island's transmission infrastructure, its near total dependence on the mainland for its electricity generation, and the capacity and condition of the ageing interconnector that links the mainland electricity network and the island grid.


2008 Zanzibar power blackout, Effects
Tourism in Zanzibar, the main income generating activity on the islands, was seriously disrupted by the outage. Other important industries, including the Zanzibar Electricity Corporation and independent small businesses were "severely hit" by the blackout. The island's semi-autonomous government was criticized for its lack of preparedness and dependence on power from mainland Tanzania.


2008 Zanzibar power blackout, Recurrence in 2009
On 10 December 2009, Zanzibar was again plunged into darkness because of failure of the undersea cable. On 23 December 2009, the Isles Minister of Energy and Construction, Mansour Yussuf Himid, was quoted in the Daily News newspaper published in Dar es Salaam as saying that the blackout would last until the end of February while a critical spare part known as a "splitter" was being sourced from overseas. He was also quoted as saying that the undersea cable was dilapidated and needed to be replaced entirely.


2008 Zanzibar power blackout, Recurrence in 2009
The undersea cable had a projected working life of 25 years when laid in 1976. It has now served for almost 35 years, ten years after it was due to be replaced.


2008 Zee Cine Awards
The 2008 Zee Cine Awards ceremony was held at a stadium in London's Docklands.


2008 Zemmouri bombing
The 2008 Zemmouri bombing occurred on August 9, 2008 when a suicide bomber drove and detonated a vehicle laden with explosives into the headquarters of the Gendarmerie Nationale in the town of Zemmouri, Boumerdès Province, Algeria killing 8 and injuring 19. The Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb is suspected as being responsible.


2008 Ziarat earthquakes
The 2008 Ziarat earthquakes hit the Pakistani province of Balochistan on October 29 with a moment magnitude of 6.4. The US Geological Survey reported that the first earthquake occurred 60 km (37 mi) north of Quetta and 185 km (115 mi) southeast of the Afghanistan city of Kandahar at 04:09 local time (28 October, 23:09 UTC) at a depth of 15 km (9.3 mi), at 30.653°N, 67.323°E. It was followed by another shallower magnitude 6.4 earthquake at a depth of 14 km (8.7 mi) approximately 12 hours after the initial shock, at 30.546°N, 67.447°E. 215 people were confirmed dead.


2008 Ziarat earthquakes
More than 200 were injured (according to Mohammed Zaman, assistant to the Balochistan chief secretary, Nasir Khosa), and 120,000 were homeless (according to Dilawar Khan Kakar, Ziarat, Balochistan mayor and chief administrator). The New York Times reported that Qamar Zaman Chaudhry, director general of Pakistan Meteorological Department, stated the quake epicenter was 70 miles (110 km) north of Quetta, and about 600 km (370 mi) southwest of Islamabad.


2008 Ziarat earthquakes, Tectonic summary
Western and northern Pakistan lie across the complex plate boundary where the Indian Plate is colliding with the Eurasian Plate. In this area the convergence is highly oblique, with the relative northward movement of the Indian Plate of 40 mm/yr (1.6 inches/yr) being at a low angle to the plate boundary. The main active faults are dominated by sinistral (left-lateral) strike-slip motion, with the Chaman Fault being the most important structure, accommodating a large proportion of the plate boundary displacement. The shortening component of the convergence is mainly accommodated by the Kirthar and Sulaiman fold and thrust belts.


2008 Ziarat earthquakes, Tectonic summary
There is a sharp change in orientation of these two thrust belts near Quetta, known as the Quetta Syntaxis, where the north-south trending Kirthar ranges meet the west-east trending Sulaiman ranges. This area is the most seismically active part of this oblique segment of the plate margin, producing major earthquakes such as the 1935 Quetta event, which caused at least an estimated 30,000 deaths.


2008 Ziarat earthquakes, Earthquake sequence
The earthquake sequence began at 22:33 UTC on October 28, with a magnitude 5.3 foreshock. This was followed just over 30 minutes later at 23:09 by the first of the M 6.4 doublet earthquakes. The second M 6.4 doublet earthquake occurred at 11:32 on October 29. There were five significant aftershocks in the period up to December 12, including three M>5 earthquakes on that day.


2008 Ziarat earthquakes, Earthquake sequence
The observed focal mechanisms were almost all strike-slip in type, but it remained unclear which faults ruptured during the sequence, with both southwest–northeast trending sinistral (left lateral) and northwest–southeast trending dextral (right lateral) faults being proposed. Investigations using InSAR data supported activity on multiple faults in both of these orientations.


2008 Ziarat earthquakes, Damage
Most of the casualties were from two villages on the outskirts of Ziarat town. Balochistan chief minister Nawab Aslam Khan Raisani ordered declaration of emergency in the hospitals of the affected areas. These areas, situated on steep terrain, were badly damaged by landslides caused by the quake. Hundreds of mud houses were destroyed.


2008 Ziarat earthquakes, Damage
"Rescue work is being carried out by the villagers themselves, but a larger operation is needed here."


2008 Ziarat earthquakes, Damage
The tremors were felt in Quetta, Ziarat, Pishin, Qila Abdullah, Mastung, Sibi, Bolan, Kuchlak and Loralai areas.


2008 Ziarat earthquakes, Response
Dilawar Khan, mayor of Ziarat District, stated that his office had requested support from the local government. Pakistani military helicopters and troops were dispatched to assess damage and aid victims.


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak
The 2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak was an epidemic of cholera affecting much of Zimbabwe from August 2008 until June 2009. The outbreak began in Chitungwiza in Mashonaland East Province in August 2008, then spread throughout the country so that by December 2008, cases were being reported in all 10 provinces. In December 2008, The Zimbabwean government declared the outbreak a national emergency and requested international aid. The outbreak peaked in January 2009 with 8,500 cases reported per week. Cholera cases from this outbreak were also reported in neighboring countries South Africa, Malawi, Botswana, Mozambique, and Zambia.


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak
With the help of international agencies, the outbreak was controlled, and by July 2009, after no cases had been reported for several weeks, the Zimbabwe Ministry of Health and Child Welfare declared the outbreak over. In total, 98,596 cases of cholera and 4,369 deaths were reported, making this the largest outbreak of cholera ever recorded in Zimbabwe. The large scale and severity of the outbreak has been attributed to poor sanitation, limited access to healthcare, and insufficient healthcare infrastructure throughout Zimbabwe.


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Cause
The 2008 cholera outbreak was caused by widespread infection with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae which is spread through water contaminated with the feces of infected individuals. Cholera had been seen in Zimbabwe in the decade leading up to the 2008 outbreak. However, the severity of the 2008 has been attributed to a combination of societal factors including poor access to health care and poor health care infrastructure, high HIV prevalence, political instability, food shortages, high levels of displaced people, and lack of access to safe water. In 2008, Zimbabwe was suffering from an economic crisis and hyperinflation which led to shortages of food and other basic goods, disruption of public services, and a large number of refugees moving within the country and to neighboring countries.


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Cause
One of the major contributing factors to the outbreak was the breakdown of the municipal water supply, sanitation, and waste collection programs throughout the country, but especially in urban areas. With this, the onset of the rainy season led to cholera-contaminated faeces being washed into water sources, in particular public drains, as well as providing readily available but contaminated water. Due to a shortage of purification chemicals, such as chlorine, the capital city of Harare stopped receiving piped water on 1 December 2008. By that date, many suburbs had not had any water supply for much longer.


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Cause
On 4 December 2008, the Zimbabwe deputy minister for water and infrastructural development stated that there were only sufficient treatment chemicals in stock nationally for 12 weeks supply. The collapse of these systems was blamed on the then-current economic crisis; many households cannot afford fuel to boil water. According to Médecins Sans Frontières, the spread of cholera from urban to rural areas from December 2008 onwards was due to infected city-dwellers visiting their families' rural homes for Christmas and the burial of infected city-dwellers in rural areas.


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Cause
The 2008 cholera epidemic in Zimbabwe had an unusually high fatality rate; Oxfam attributed the high mortality to a population "seriously weakened by hunger, HIV and AIDS". A major contributing factor to the severity of the outbreak was the collapse of Zimbabwe's public health system, declared a national emergency on 4 December 2008. By the end of November 2008, three of Zimbabwe's four major hospitals had shut down, along with the Zimbabwe Medical School, and the fourth major hospital had two wards and no operating theatres working. Zimbabwean hospitals still open by December 2008 lacked medicines and staff.


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Cause
Due to hyperinflation, hospitals were not able to buy basic drugs and medicines, and the resources of even internationally funded emergency clinics were stretched. The ongoing political and economic crisis contributed to the emigration of doctors and people with medical knowledge. Some victims were travelling to Botswana and other neighbouring countries for treatment.


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Impact
The 2008 outbreak began in Chitungwiza on 20 August 2008. In September, cases spread to the urban areas of Makonde and Chinhoyi. By the end of October, cases had spread to 3 provinces: Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, and Harare city. In the first two weeks of November, the epidemic rapidly spread across Zimbabwe, appearing in a total of 9 provinces and 54 districts. The disease spread to reach all of Zimbabwe's ten provinces. The attack rate was highest in Beitbridge, Chegutu, Mudzi and Zvimba Districts (above 1,000 cases per 100,000 people or 1.0%).


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Impact
The number of cases reported by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs escalated from 30 on 1 September 2008 to 15,572 by 10 December. According to the Red Cross, around 46% of reported deaths occur en route to clinics and hospitals. The head of the British Department for International Development in Harare said that "there are probably twice as many people with cholera as turn up for treatment".


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Impact
The case fatality rate for the outbreak was higher than expected for such outbreaks, although it began declining by January 2009. Official estimates of fatalities have run from 484 to 800, since the outbreak in August 2008, with an upper estimate of 3,000 from an anonymous senior official in the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare. Fatality rates varied from 2.5% in Harare to 18% in Chitungwiza. In Harare, the crisis reached the extent that the city council offered free graves to cholera victims. By 7 December, Oxfam estimated 60,000 cases by the end of January 2009 and a 10% fatality rate, with UNICEF giving a similar estimate. On 4 December 2008, the Zimbabwe government declared the outbreak to be a national emergency.


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Response
Assistance after the 2008 outbreak was made available by numerous international agencies, and funding for water, sanitation and hygiene programmes, epidemic response and the provision of essential drugs came from several governments and trans-governmental organisations:


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Response
By 7 December 2008, UNICEF had secured international donor funding to provide sufficient water treatment chemicals for three weeks water supply for Harare and had arranged a shipment of chemical sufficient for four months supply. UNICEF distributed 360,000 litres of water per day in Harare, as well as handing out soap and buckets. Notwithstanding the contributions received, UNICEF indicated on 9 December 2008 that US$17,500,000 was needed to respond properly to the outbreak. As of 15 December, following agreement with the Zimbabwe government, the World Health Organization was procuring medical supplies to roll out a response plan to run health centres.


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Spread
The 2008 cholera outbreak spread to districts in Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia bordering Zimbabwe.


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Spread, South Africa
Cholera spread to the Zimbabwean migrant worker community in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa and cholera bacteria were detected in the Limpopo River on 3 December 2008. By 12 December 2008, 11 deaths and 859 infections had been recorded in South Africa, rising to 2,100 cases and 15 deaths by 14 January 2009, and to 12,000 cases and 59 deaths by 10 March.


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Spread, South Africa
The South African government set up medical facilities and drinking water supplies at the Beitbridge border post and deployed the National Outbreak Response Team and additional medical personnel to Musina. Anthony Turton, a political scientist and Unit Fellow with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in South Africa, who had earlier warned of the risk of cholera in South Africa and wrote a report that recommended that the South African government increase its spending on water treatments lest a cholera outbreak occur in the country, was suspended for having made "inappropriate statements to the media". On 10 December 2008, the Limpopo Provincial Government declared Vhembe District Municipality, which borders Zimbabwe at Beitbridge, Matabeleland South province, a disaster area. On a 28 January 2009 visit to Musina with high-ranking government and ruling party officials, Health Minister Barbara Hogan said


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Spread, South Africa
Cholera is spreading... We are beginning to see a shift from Zimbabwe to South Africa. The situation is scary... I am concerned about the impact this is having on our provinces.


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Spread, Other countries
The spread of cholera to Zimbabwe's other neighbouring countries was initially slower than in South Africa, with one death recorded in Kafue District in Zambia and none in Botswana or Namibia by 9 December 2008. In 2009, cases increased, with 4,354 cases and 55 deaths reported by 10 February 2009 in Zambia and 1,596 cases and 14 deaths in Katanga, the southernmost province of the DR Congo. In Mozambique, cholera spread to 10 out of 11 provinces, with a total of 9,533 cases by 1 Jan to 1 Mar 2009 and 119 deaths by 17 March.


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Spread, Other countries
Four health workers also died in a mob attack, blamed on "misinformation and misunderstanding in efforts to combat cholera", and 12 of the prisoners from the incident died in jail. In Malawi 104 deaths were recorded since January, making it the worst outbreak since 2001–02 where 960 people died. Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, DRC, and Ghana have had unrelated cholera outbreaks with between 10 and 100 deaths in 2009 as of February.


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Prevention
After the 2008 epidemic was declared a national emergency, the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare (MOHCW) collaborated with several other departments, governments, and non-governmental organizations to create a Cholera Command and Control Centre. This centre works to prevent cholera outbreaks in Zimbabwe by addressing broader societal factors that could contribute to cholera outbreaks, such as water sanitation and poor hygiene habits.


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Politicisation
Because of its well-organised health care system and effective water sanitation facilities, Rita R. Colwell of the James Baker Institute says Zimbabwe was historically one of the African countries least affected by cholera. A news commentary in The Lancet said that, under President Robert Mugabe, the country's health programs were negatively impacted, resulting in diminished health care for those infected with cholera. According to a draft paper from the WHO's World Conference on Social Determinants in Health, there were fewer health workers in the villages than in urban areas, which hindered early detection and isolation of cholera cases.


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Politicisation
A news commentator writing for The Lancet, Andrew Meldrum, said that President Mugabe's Youth Militia threatened health professionals that provided medical treatment to political opponents. He said that, combined with decreasing education standards, low pay, and a shortage of medical supplies like latex gloves, this led doctors to leave Zimbabwe at an alarming rate. According to Douglas Gwatidzo, the chairman of the Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights group, Zimbabwe had only one doctor assigned to a group of 12,000 citizens. Doctors in Zimbabwe fill only 25% of the medical posts available, and even fewer specialist positions are taken. According to Meldrum, this poses serious challenges to health care for diseases like HIV/AIDS and cholera. Similarly, the effects of cholera are exacerbated without proper nutrition, and Zimbabwe has faced food shortages for the last several years.


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Politicisation
Cholera and malnutrition keep children out of school – a serious social consequence of the outbreak. Rachel Pound, the director of Save the Children in Zimbabwe, said that attending school may be dangerous in Zimbabwe, instead of providing a ladder for self-improvement. She noted that "Sanitation is now so bad in schools that they may become a breeding ground for infection", rather than a place of valuable education.


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Politicisation
According to Meldrum, Zimbabwe's high inflation left the country with a lack of financial resources, resulting in a shortage of ambulances and pharmaceutical drugs. According to Eric Pruyt of the Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands, this was exacerbated by a shortage of international aid, as Zimbabwe's government didn't acknowledge the epidemic and accept aid until the disease was widespread. It was not contained or prevented from spreading. Until 2008, the government insisted that there was no cholera in Zimbabwe, and Pruyt says the U.N. did not provide the country with safe drinking water until after the crisis started. Meldrum says that, during Zimbabwe's continuing HIV/AIDS dilemma, some major international donors did not give much money because they believed it would help President Mugabe stay in power, which they did not want.


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Politicisation
As the outbreak and health crisis grew worse, American and British leaders cited the crisis as further proof that it was, in their view, "well past time for (President) Robert Mugabe to leave" and that Zimbabwe had become a failed state. Marian Tupy of the Cato Institute said that the crisis began in 2005 when the government took over water treatment facilities but without sufficient funding to maintain purification processes.


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Politicisation
The transfer of water treatment from local government to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority was criticized by Innocent Nhapi of the National University of Rwanda on the basis of capacity and funding of the authority. The lack of funding for water treatment chemicals, maintenance and staff salaries was cited by Colwell of the Baker Institute as a major cause of the epidemic. According to Colwell, before funds were diverted from the plants to other uses, there were only sixty-five cases and four deaths from cholera in Zimbabwe.


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Politicisation
According to an editorial by Daniel J Ncayiyana in the South African Medical Journal, President Mugabe blamed the U.S. and the U.K. for the cholera outbreak, saying that they sent the disease so that they have a reason to credibly remove him from the presidency. One Zimbabwean citizen was shown with a sign that blamed UK Prime Minister Gordan Brown for the disease; the sign expressed the horrors of "Brown’s cholera".


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Politicisation
According to a news report in Al Jazeera, the Zimbabwe government and state media blamed the outbreak on European and American sanctions and a Reuters report said it accused Britain of plotting an invasion under the cover of the outbreak. Information minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu blamed the cholera deaths on Western sanctions, saying "the cholera issue has been used to drive a wedge among us". On 12 December, Ndlovu repeated his accusation, and claimed that the cholera outbreak was actually a "serious biological-chemical weapon" attack by the United Kingdom, which Ndlovu asserted was trying to commit genocide. Said Ndlovu:


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Politicisation
Cholera is a calculated, racist, terrorist attack on Zimbabwe by the unrepentant former colonial power, which has enlisted support from its American and Western allies so that they can invade the country.


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Politicisation
In the meantime, a senior ZANU-PF official argued that the government and party leadership was more focussed on the forthcoming ZANU-PF conference than on the current crisis. On 11 December 2008, President Robert Mugabe made a speech screened on national television in which he said:


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Politicisation
I am happy to say our doctors have been assisted by others and WHO (the World Health Organization)... so now that there is no cholera... Because of cholera, Mr Brown wants a military intervention... Bush wants military intervention because of cholera... There is no cause for war any more. The cholera cause doesn't exist any more.


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Politicisation
Reports from the WHO contradicted Mugabe's view and indicated a growing death toll. According to the WHO, as of 8 December nearly 800 people had died of cholera and more than 16,000 cases were being treated. Later that same day, Zimbabwean visas were denied to six French aid workers, including three crisis management specialists, two epidemiologists and a water treatment expert. Britain's Africa minister, Mark Malloch-Brown, dismissed Mugabe's claim that the Zimbabwe cholera crisis is over, commenting as follows:


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Politicisation
I don't know what world he [Mugabe] is living in. There is a raging humanitarian crisis in Zimbabwe as well as an economic crisis and still there is no representative government able to lead the country out of this disaster.


2008 Zimbabwean cholera outbreak, Politicisation
The French foreign ministry and USAID also contradicted Mugabe's statements and called on him to allow aid to reach the people in need.


2008 Zimbabwean general election
General elections were held in Zimbabwe on 29 March 2008 to elect the President and Parliament. Because of Zimbabwe's dire economic situation, the elections were expected to provide incumbent President Robert Mugabe with his toughest electoral challenge to date. Mugabe's opponents were critical of the handling of the electoral process, and the government was accused of planning to rig the election. Human Rights Watch said that the election was likely to be "deeply flawed."


2008 Zimbabwean general election
No official results were announced for more than a month after the first round. The failure to release results was strongly criticised by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, which unsuccessfully sought an order from the High Court to force their release. An independent projection placed its leader Morgan Tsvangirai in the lead, but without the majority needed to avoid a second round, whilst the MDC declared that Tsvangirai won a narrow majority in the first round and initially refused to participate in any second round.


2008 Zimbabwean general election
After the recount and the verification of the results, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) announced on 2 May that Tsvangirai won 47.9% of the vote and Mugabe 43.2%, necessitating a run-off, which was to be held on 27 June 2008. Despite Tsvangirai's continuing claims to have won a first round majority, he decided to participate in the second round. The period following the first round was marked by political violence. ZANU–PF and the MDC each blamed the other's supporters for perpetrating the violence; Western governments and prominent Western organisations blamed ZANU–PF for the violence.


2008 Zimbabwean general election
On 22 June 2008, Tsvangirai announced that he was withdrawing from the run-off, describing it as a "violent sham" and saying that his supporters risked being killed if they voted for him. The second round of elections went ahead with Mugabe as the only actively participating candidate, although Tsvangirai's name remained on the ballot. Mugabe won the second round by an overwhelming margin and was sworn in for another term as president on 29 June.


2008 Zimbabwean general election
In the parliamentary elections, ZANU–PF lost its majority in the House of Assembly for the first time since independence in 1980, as the two factions of the MDC won most of the seats; a month after the election, the MDC factions merged.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Background
In late 2006 a plan was proposed that would have delayed the elections to 2010, at the same time as the next parliamentary election, which was said to be a cost-saving measure. This would have lengthened President Mugabe's term by two years. However, there was reportedly dissent within the ruling ZANU–PF regarding the proposal, and it was never approved. In March 2007, Mugabe said that he thought the feeling in the party favoured having the presidential election in 2008, and moving the parliamentary election up by two years instead.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Background
He also said that he would be willing to stand for another term if chosen by the party. On 30 March 2007, it was announced that the ZANU–PF Central Committee had chosen Mugabe as the party's candidate for another term in 2008, that presidential terms would be reduced to five years instead of six, and that the parliamentary election would also be held in 2008. Later, information was leaked from the same meeting that ZANU–PF had adopted the position of making Mugabe president-for-life.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Background
On 25 January 2008, the date of the election was announced as 29 March. A spokesperson for the faction of the MDC led by Morgan Tsvangirai denounced this as "an act of madness and arrogance", while the leader of the other MDC faction, Arthur Mutambara, said that a free and fair election could not be held under the existing conditions, calling for a new constitution to be adopted prior to the election. Talks between the MDC and ZANU–PF collapsed following the announcement of the election date; the MDC had wanted the dialogue to affect the election, while ZANU–PF wanted to hold the election on schedule in March and for any changes agreed in the talks only to take effect afterwards.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Electoral system, President
An amendment to the Electoral Act in 2005 meant that this was the first time a presidential candidate was required to win a majority of the vote, introducing a second round if necessary.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Electoral system, President
There were about 5.9 million registered voters and about 11,000 polling stations, compared to about 4,000 polling stations in the 2005 parliamentary election. The Zimbabwe Election Support Network said that there were insufficient polling stations in urban areas, where the opposition is considered stronger, while the availability of polling stations was better in rural areas, where ZANU–PF is considered stronger. According to the Electoral Commission, it planned to deploy 107,690 polling officers to oversee voting.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Electoral system, President
The Public Holidays and Prohibition of Business Notice 2008, published on 17 March, declared 29 March to be a public holiday. This was accompanied by the Presidential Powers (Temporary Measures) (Amendment of Electoral Act) (No. 2) Regulations, 2008, which allows police to enter polling stations. This ended a previous law, put in place in 2007 as a result of talks between ZANU–PF and the MDC, that required police to stay 100 meters away from polling stations. The regulations amended Sections 59 and 60 of the Electoral Act, providing for electoral officers and police officers to assist illiterate voters (in the case of Section 59) and physically incapacitated voters (in the case of Section 60). The change was criticised by Tsvangirai and Makoni.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Electoral system, President
Other changes agreed upon in the talks between ZANU–PF and the MDC included the posting of results outside of polling stations and the provision that, if state television aired any candidate's advertising, then it had to also air advertising from other candidates. Security laws that could be used to prevent MDC rallies were also moderated. The new rules also stipulated that presidential results may only be announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Electoral system, Parliament
The House of Assembly was expanded from 150 to 210 members, all elected, in the 2008 election, while the Senate expanding to 93 seats, 60 of which were directly elected (six from each province). There were 29 constituencies in Harare, 28 in Midlands, 26 in Manicaland, 18 in Mashonaland Central, 23 in Mashonaland East, 22 in Mashonaland West, 26 in Masvingo, 13 in Matabeleland North, and 13 in Matabeleland South, and 12 in Bulawayo. Unlike in previous elections, when constituency voter rolls were used, ward voter rolls were used in the 2008 election. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission delimited 1,958 wards.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Electoral system, Parliament
Prior to the election being held, ZANU–PF won two seats where it was unopposed: the House of Assembly seat from Muzarabani South, won by Edward Raradza, and the Senate seat from Rushinga, won by Damien Mumvuri. Three candidates of the MDC faction led by Mutambara died prior to the election, resulting in the elections for those seats being delayed. Glory Makwati, a candidate in the Gwanda South constituency, died in late February; this was followed on 29 February by the death of Milton Gwetu, the MP for Mpopoma, who was running for re-election. On 13 March, Abednico Malinga, another MP of the MDC Mutambara faction who was standing as a candidate, died in a car crash. He had represented Silobela constituency in the House of Assembly and was running in 2008 as a candidate in Redcliff constituency.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Campaign, Presidential candidacies
In 2006, ZANU–PF National chairman John Nkomo was one of the first to announce he would be ready to contest the election for ZANU–PF if Mugabe chose to retire. Abel Muzorewa, the only prime minister of Zimbabwe Rhodesia, suggested on 21 June 2007 that he might run, claiming that people were urging him to do so. However, Mugabe was chosen by acclamation as ZANU–PF's presidential candidate for the 2008 election by delegates at a December 2007 party congress. John Nkomo said that he "did not hear any dissenting voices" and that the congress had "fully and unreservedly" backed Mugabe.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Campaign, Presidential candidacies
Talks to unite the two MDC factions behind the candidacy of Tsvangirai, the leader of the main faction, broke down on 3 February 2008. Mutambara apologised to the people for this failure, while Tsvangirai said that unity could not be imposed by force. Analysts viewed the opposition's failure to unite as making Mugabe's re-election a near-certainty, although Tsvangirai, while expressing regret, said that he believed the opposition still had "a fighting chance" of victory.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Campaign, Presidential candidacies
Simba Makoni, a former Finance Minister who was a leading member of ZANU–PF, formally announced on 5 February 2008 that he would be a candidate, running as an independent, but campaigning through the Mavambo/Kusile/Dawn organisation. Joseph Chinotimba from the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association threatened Makoni, and ZANU–PF declared Makoni to be expelled from the party; it said that anyone supporting him would be expelled as well. On 11 February, Tsvangirai confirmed that he would be the candidate of his faction of the MDC in the election, ending speculation that he might rally behind Makoni's candidacy.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Campaign, Presidential candidacies
Although Tsvangirai said that Makoni was a patriot, he was otherwise sharply critical, saying that Makoni had "been part of the establishment for the last 30 years" and therefore shared responsibility with Mugabe for Zimbabwe's situation. He furthermore expressed his view that Makoni intended to merely "reform an institutionalised dictatorship" and was "old wine in a new bottle".


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Campaign, Presidential candidacies
On 15 February 2008, Mugabe, Tsvangirai, and Makoni filed their nomination papers and were confirmed as candidates by Ignatius Mushangwe, the Electoral Commission's presiding officer. Mugabe's papers were submitted by Emmerson Mnangagwa, while Tsvangirai's were submitted by Nelson Chamisa; Makoni submitted his papers in person. A fourth candidate, Langton Towungana, was also confirmed, running as an independent. William Gwata of the Christian Democratic Party attempted to run, but his papers were rejected because they were judged as not meeting the criteria, while Daniel Shumba, formerly of ZANU–PF, appeared too late to submit his papers.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Campaign, Presidential candidacies
Zimbabwe People's Party Justine Chiota also attempted to run, but the Electoral Commission rejected his nomination papers. Mutambara announced on the same day that he would not run for president and would instead back Makoni, while contesting the parliamentary election in Zengeza West. Makoni nevertheless stressed that he was running alone and was "not in an alliance with anyone".


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Campaign, Presidential candidacies
Mugabe spoke about Makoni's candidacy for the first time on 21 February, calling it "absolutely disgraceful", comparing Makoni to a prostitute, and saying that Makoni had a self-important attitude. Mugabe also said on the same occasion that Western countries would not be permitted to send observers for the election. Also on 21 February, the MDC factions said that their dialogue with ZANU–PF, which collapsed after the announcement of the election date in January, had failed. The factions said that the outcome of the election would not be legitimate.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Opinion polls
A survey, conducted by the University of Zimbabwe and reported by The Herald on 28 March, predicted that ZANU–PF would win 137 House of Assembly seats and 41 Senate seats, that the MDC faction led by Tsvangirai would win 53 House of Assembly seats and 13 Senate seats, and that the MDC faction led by Mutambara would win 18 House of Assembly seats and six Senate seats. The survey was based on the views of 10,322 participants, and all of the country's wards were represented in the survey.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election
Voting began at 7 am on 29 March and continued for 12 hours, with polling stations closing at 7 pm, although voters who were still in line at that point were allowed to continue voting. Turnout was reported to be somewhat low, and according to police the voting was for the most part calm and peaceful, although the home of a ZANU–PF parliamentary candidate in Bulawayo was bombed.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election
Mugabe, voting in Harare, said: "We are not in the habit of cheating. We don't rig elections." According to Mugabe, his conscience would not let him sleep at night if he tried to rig the election. Tsvangirai also voted in Harare, saying that he was certain of victory "in spite of the regime's attempt to subvert the will of the people"; he also claimed that the election could not be considered free and fair even if the MDC won. For his part, Makoni predicted that he would win with a score even higher than the 72% he had previously predicted.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election
The MDC said that ballot papers ran out at a polling station in Mt Dzuma constituency and in Wards 29 and 30 of Makoni South constituency (both constituencies in Manicaland). It also claimed that the indelible ink used for voting could be removed with detergent. Biti said that there was "absolutely no doubt we have won this election".


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election
Some Zimbabweans living in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa held protests and mock voting in response to their exclusion from the election.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) on 28 March admitted that the voters' roll to be used in the elections was "in shambles" after the opposition had unearthed 8,000 voters who according to the roll, were "normally resident" in a block that has no buildings and a shack that had 75 registered voters. This was in Hatcliffe alone.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election
The ZEC allegedly contravened the Electoral Act by failing to make available to the MDC a hard copy of the roll.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Vote counting
In its preliminary report on 30 March, the SADC observer mission gave the election a positive assessment, although it noted some concerns. Jose Marcos Barrica, the head of the mission, described the election as "a peaceful and credible expression of the will of the people of Zimbabwe." He said that it was free of violence and intimidation. Two members of the mission dissented from the group's report, however.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Vote counting
On 30 March, Tendai Biti claimed victory for the MDC at a news conference, saying that the party held the lead based on partial and unofficial results and that the trend was "irreversible". According to the MDC, results from 35% of polling stations (as posted on the doors of the polling stations) showed Tsvangirai with 67% of the vote. Leaders of the security forces and government officials had warned the opposition against announcing unofficial results.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Vote counting
Presidential spokesman George Charamba said that if Tsvangirai's next step, after announcing unofficial results and declaring himself the victor, was to declare himself President, then that would be considered "a coup d'état and we all know how coups are handled". Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission expressed concern at the MDC's announcement of "purported results of the poll when in fact the results are being verified and collated", and it urged the people to be patient. Biti said that the MDC did not wait on the Electoral Commission's results because it did not trust the commission and did not consider it to be independent.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Vote counting
On 13 April, the Electoral Commission ordered a recount in 23 constituencies, which was to occur on 19 April in the presence of party representatives and electoral observers. According to Electoral Commission chairman George Chiweshe, there were "reasonable grounds for believing that the votes were miscounted and that the miscount would affect the results of this election". Chamisa said on the same day that the MDC would legally challenge the recount, alleging that it was "designed to reverse the will of the people".


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Vote counting
According to Chiweshe, ZANU–PF candidates in 23 constituencies lodged complaints within the prescribed 48 hours after the end of voting, and therefore their complaints could be considered under the Electoral Act. However, on 13 April, Welshman Ncube, who as an MDC negotiator was involved in rewriting some contentious laws with ZANU–PF in 2007, disputed this, calling the complaints "concoctions after the fact".


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Vote counting
He accused Chiweshe of being a "blatant liar and a fraudster" and alleged that the Electoral Commission was working with ZANU–PF to change the outcome of the election, saying that the commission had the ballot boxes for over two weeks and could have tampered with them. MDC Secretary for Legal Affairs David Coltart said: "The delay between the expiry of the 48-hour period and the writing of the letters of complaint by ZEC is inexplicable, unreasonable. The only inference one can draw from the delay is that the commission has connived with ZANU–PF and therefore acted illegally." He requested proof that the complaints had in fact been made within the acceptable timeframe.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Vote counting
The High Court on 14 April dismissed the MDC's petition requesting the immediate release of results, and the party was ordered to pay the court costs. Although he denounced the ruling, Tsvangirai said that the MDC would not appeal it because the party did not want to contribute to any further delay by doing so. Meanwhile, Rindai Chipfunde-Vava, the Director of the Zimbabwe Election Support Network, which projected that Tsvangirai had received 49% of the vote, was arrested when arriving at the airport in Harare. He was held briefly for questioning before being released.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Vote counting
On 15 April, the High Court's Judge Antonia Guvava deferred hearing an MDC legal challenge regarding the recount of ballots, saying that she needed time to read Uchena's ruling dismissing the request for the release of results on the previous day. She also said that she needed time to consider whether the MDC could file new evidence that was not included in the original affidavits.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Vote counting
The recount of votes in 23 constituencies began on 19 April, with party representatives and foreign electoral observers present. It was initially expected to take three days, but due to delays on the first day at some polling stations, Utoile Silaigwana, the Electoral Commission's deputy chief elections officer, said on 20 April that it might take longer. Silaigwana attributed the delays to lengthy "initial consultations" and to polling agents arriving late.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Vote counting
According to Silaigwana, the recount was "not a small exercise and we want to ensure that there are no mistakes this time around"; he said that it was going well and that there had been no complaints from either of the parties. However, MDC spokesman Chamisa denounced the process as "flawed and criminal", saying that it was a "circus" and that the government was "playing games with the people".


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Vote counting
On 21 April 2008, a South African member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) observer team, MP Dianne Kohler-Barnard, said that the recount was "fatally flawed". She reported repeated miscommunication of venue addresses, protocol registers at several counting stations missing, ballot box seals holding the keys for the two padlocks on each box broken. One set of ballot boxes was missing a book of voting papers from the presidential election box, although all the other books were locked inside. Loose ballot box seals with serial numbers identical to those on already-sealed boxes were easily available.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Vote counting
Electoral Commission chairman George Chiweshe said on 23 April that he expected presidential results to be released during the forthcoming weekend (26 April–27).


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Possible second round, intimidation
Tsvangirai, while still asserting victory, said on 15 April that he would be willing to participate in a second round under certain conditions: he wanted SADC to oversee the election, for it to be conducted "transparently, freely and fairly", and for all international observers to be free to monitor it. The MDC alleged that Tapiwa Mubwanda, an election agent for the party, had been stabbed to death by supporters of ZANU–PF. The killing was confirmed by police, although they said that the motive was not yet determined. If Mubwanda was killed for political reasons, this would be the first such death to have occurred during the dispute. A group of doctors said in a statement that 157 people had been treated after suffering beatings and torture in the wake of the election.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Possible second round, intimidation
On 17 April, Tsvangirai, speaking from Johannesburg, said that Mbeki should be "relieved of his duties" as mediator, and that he had asked Mwanawasa to "lead a new initiative, an initiative that will expand beyond that of Mr Mbeki". Meanwhile, in an interview with the BBC on the same day, Tsvangirai claimed that presidential envoys had approached the MDC on 30 March, immediately following the election, and proposed the formation of a government of national unity.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Possible second round, intimidation
According to Tsvangirai, the MDC had been willing to consider this and had also been willing to guarantee that Mugabe and other leading members of ZANU–PF would not be prosecuted; however, he said that the resistance of ZANU–PF hard-liners caused the talks to collapse after a few days. Furthermore, Tsvangirai said in the interview that, if he became president, Mugabe could be placed on trial, either by the regular courts or by a potential "justice and truth commission". He said that, although he was staying outside the country for the time being, he was not in exile and planned to return to Zimbabwe.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Possible second round, intimidation
On 18 April, High Court Judge Guvava dismissed the MDC's application to stop the recount that was requested by ZANU–PF, ruling that the application was without merit and requiring the MDC to pay court costs. On the same day, in South Africa, the ANC backed SADC's decision to keep Mbeki in his role as mediator, despite Tsvangirai's call for him to be replaced.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Allegations of violence, further international response
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said on 17 April that, if a second round was held, international observers should be present. On 18 April, the foreign ministers of the G8 released a joint statement calling for the results "to be released expeditiously and in accordance with the due process of law" and for "a speedy, credible and genuinely democratic resolution to this situation". Biti met with former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 18 April, and on 19 April Annan suggested that African leaders should be doing more to help resolve the situation.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Allegations of violence, further international response
In a report on 19 April, Human Rights Watch alleged that ZANU–PF members were "setting up torture camps to systematically target, beat, and torture people suspected of having voted for the MDC", both to punish them and to pressure them into voting for Mugabe in a potential second round. The group asserted that there must be high-level complicity in this and criticised SADC and Mbeki for inaction. According to Human Rights Watch, it interviewed over 30 people who had suffered injuries in the camps.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Allegations of violence, further international response
Biti, speaking at a press conference in Johannesburg on 20 April, described Zimbabwe as a "war zone" and urged the mobilisation of UN organisations in the country, saying that the situation was no longer merely a political crisis, but a humanitarian crisis as well. According to Biti, 500 MDC supporters had been attacked, 400 had been arrested, he also said that 3,000 families had been displaced. Between March and June 2008, at least 153 MDC supporters were killed. Because key members of the administration of the MDC had been arrested, the party was unable to function, according to Biti. Like Tsvangirai, Biti was staying outside of Zimbabwe, expressing fear of arrest. On 21 April, Deputy Information Minister Matonga dismissed the allegations of violence against the opposition as "lies that are being peddled by the MDC". He said that the purported ZANU–PF vigilante groups were "imaginary".


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Allegations of violence, further international response
On 21 April 2008, Enos Nkala, one of the founders of the Zimbabwe African National Union and a former Defence Minister, appealed to Mugabe to retire because he had been rejected by the people. "I have information from very reliable sources that on 1 April, everyone had the results including those of the presidential elections," he said. "The President wanted to go but there are people surrounding him who have committed heinous crimes against the people of Zimbabwe and they are afraid of a change of guard...


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Allegations of violence, further international response
Zanu PF was formed in my house in Harare and what is happening now is not one of the reasons why it was formed... It has been hijacked by criminals and people who can not be employed if they leave government. They are also holding Zimbabweans to ransom." Meanwhile, Dabengwa, who had backed Makoni, said that Makoni's campaign had accomplished its mission by preventing either Mugabe or Tsvangirai from winning a first round majority; he opposed holding a run-off and favoured the formation of a transitional government of national unity followed by a new election.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Allegations of violence, further international response
Also on 21 April, UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband, speaking in the British Parliament, described the situation as a "constitutional crisis" and said that Mugabe was trying "to steal the election"; he also said that Mugabe and ZANU–PF had "unleashed a campaign of violence" against opposition supporters. He furthermore described the pace of vote counting as "ludicrously slow" and said that the recount could not be trusted.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Allegations of violence, further international response
Meanwhile, Zuma, who described the delay in results as unacceptable, called for African leaders to "move in to unlock this logjam" by sending a mission to talk to the parties and the Electoral Commission; he said that, while Mbeki was the mediator, the "gravity of the situation" made it desirable to send other leaders to assist in resolving the situation.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Allegations of violence, further international response
On 21 April, the East Africa Law Society called an emergency Pan-African Citizens consultative meeting to be held in Dar es Salaam. It was to urge the African Union to take action on the election crisis in Zimbabwe. It brings together representatives of civil society, the legal fraternity, trade unions, academia and others.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Allegations of violence, further international response
Tsvangirai met with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at a meeting of the UN Conference on Trade and Development in Accra, Ghana, on 21 April, and he urged intervention by the United Nations and African Union.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Allegations of violence, further international response
In a joint statement on 22 April, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Catholic Bishops' Conference, and the Zimbabwe Council of Churches called on SADC, the AU, and the UN to act to prevent the situation from deteriorating further, warning of the possibility of "genocide" if they did not. The statement alleged that "organised violence" was being employed against those suspected of supporting the MDC and that MDC supporters were being forced to repeat ZANU–PF slogans; it appealed for an end to voter intimidation.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Allegations of violence, further international response
At a press conference in Accra on 22 April, Tsvangirai asked African leaders to acknowledge his claimed victory and said that Mugabe needed to make a "graceful" and "honourable" exit. The Herald published an opinion piece by Obediah Mukura Mazombwe on 23 April that called for negotiations mediated by SADC that would lead to the establishment of a transitional government of national unity, including both ZANU–PF and the MDC.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Allegations of violence, further international response
Mazombwe argued that the political and economic situation made holding a second round unrealistic, and that the best solution would be the formation of a national unity government that would organise an entirely new election, with Mugabe remaining President during the transition. Chinamasa said, however, that Mazombe's article did not represent the position of ZANU–PF or the government, and he reiterated that ZANU–PF was opposed to a national unity government.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Allegations of violence, further international response
Also on 23 April, Zuma said that there were other countries urging South Africa to use force in Zimbabwe, but that South Africa believed in resolving the situation through "quiet diplomacy" and negotiations. He also said that a national unity government was something worth considering and that it was not premature to discuss it as an option.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Allegations of violence, further international response
In London, Zuma and Brown issued a joint statement in which they described the situation in Zimbabwe as a crisis and called "for an end to any violence and intimidation and stress[ed] the importance of respect for the sovereign people of Zimbabwe and the choice they have made at the ballot box." Brown, along with Amnesty International, additionally said that an arms embargo should be imposed on Zimbabwe, but Zuma said that he did not think that was necessary. Meanwhile, Joaquim Chissano, the former President of Mozambique, said that he and the Africa Forum, of which he is chairman, would be willing to get involved to help resolve the situation if regional leaders requested it.


2008 Zimbabwean general election, Conduct, Presidential election, Allegations of violence, further international response
Various attacks on farmers have been reported; in one instance, 10 farm workers were reportedly ambushed and beaten by ZANU–PF supporters, and in another instance a farmworker was reportedly stabbed to death. One farmer said that his family was held hostage on 23 April by war veterans seeking to force them off their property. Zimbabwean officials, however, alleged that activists of the MDC, disguised as ZANU–PF members, had perpetrated violence against the population, mimicking the tactics of the Selous Scouts during the liberation struggle. They alleged that there was a "predominance" of Selous Scouts in the MDC. The Sunday Mail published an article which claims that former Selous Scouts are training MDC youth activists in violent tactics, at locations near Tswane (Pretoria) and Pietermaritzburg in South Africa.