The increased delay of the Zimbabwe elections is severely affecting what's left of the country's collapsed economy. Before the elections, a number of workers skipped out on their jobs not because they wanted to go on holiday, but because the high inflation rate practically mandated it, as many couldn't even afford bus fare to get to work.
Now many workers aren't showing up because they fear unrest and feel uncertain and unsafe in regards to Zim's future.
Twelve days after the initial elections, confirmation of the the final tally is still up in the air and is pending a runoff before April 19. It makes me wonder who's actually running the country while Mugabe and his opposition battle it out in a war of political "he said, she said" over who is responsible for the country's economic downfall.
Meanwhile, contact between businesses and the government has rusted through, and employers aren't getting any answers.
To make matters worse, MDC candidate Morgan Tsvangirai refuses to take part in runoff elections. And MDC officials continue to report that the opposition won outright and, therefore, need not participate.
This only exacerbates the problem further because the longer the delay (runoff or not), the more time Mugabe has to devise a plan for a second-round victory to secure his presidency.
On Monday, High Court officials will rule whether or not the opposition will be granted its request for the release of official poll results. (My guess is no...unless doctored results are released showing either a Mugabe victory or a too-close-to-call tally that must be resolved with yet another round of this ridiculousness.)
The bit of good news is that the two reporters (one British, one American) who were taken from their hotel rooms have been released on bail. But they're still being charged for reporting on the elections without the proper credentials (i.e., official approval from the corrupt government). While that trial continues, their passports are being held, and they're barred from leaving the country. (Isn't that punishment enough?!)
