Zimbabwe goes to the polls

(Vatican Radio) Zimbabweans on Wednesday have been voting in Parliamentary and Presidential elections. This is the election that pits President Robert Mugabe against his Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
For the past few years both men have governed Zimbabwe in an uneasy coalition. Now President Mugabe says he will hand over power to former opposition lead Tsvangirai if he loses the poll.
The election has not been without controversy. The prime Minister’s party has alleged that Mugabe supporters have been involved in vote-rigging in order to win, which the president has denied.
Memories of the violence and bloodshed that marred the 2008 poll are still fresh in the minds of many people in Zimbabwe and in the lead up to the vote church leaders urged Christians around the world to pray for their country.
Miriam Machaya is Country Manager for Zimbabwe with humanitarian agency Christian Aid, she says church groups have been very active in this election.
“The Church this time has been really pro-active, you know, putting the message out there”.
The country’s economy, which is still struggling, is on the minds of many in this vote.
Miriam says young people especially who are looking for a better future.
“There are really looking forward to getting jobs… there is a general outlook from people for an economic upturn”.
The government has refused to allow Western observers in to monitor Wednesday's elections, but the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (Sadc), as well as local organisations, have been given representation. Listen to Lydia O’Kane’s interview with Miriam Machaya