Harare – The first results from Zimbabwe’s legislative races show President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party taking an early lead and even making some inroads into districts previously held by candidates of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

The first batch of district results from officials with the Zimbabwe Election Committee showed the Zanu-PF claiming 25 of the first 28 constituencies for which results were available, out of a total of 210.

The remaining three were claimed by the MDC.

SAPA

Brussels – The European Union, which has eased sanctions on Zimbabwe to encourage reforms, praised Zimbabweans on Thursday for turning out in large numbers to vote peacefully but said it was too early to assess the election’s fairness.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai dismissed the election as a “farce” after his rival President Robert Mugabe’s party claimed a landslide victory that would secure another five years in power for Africa’s oldest head of state.

The EU’s verdict on the elections will decide whether it continues to ease sanctions on Zimbabwe or extends them.

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton “commends the people of Zimbabwe for turning out in large numbers to cast their votes, in what were broadly peaceful elections”, a spokesperson said.

“She calls upon on all parties to maintain calm and order as the results of the poll become known,” he said.

The EU will await the assessment of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Union (AU) on the elections and reported irregularities, as well as the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s official announcement of the results, before announcing its own assessment, he said.

Western election observers were barred from entering the southern African country. Regional grouping SADC and the AU had teams monitoring the voting.

One Western diplomat said that, although the elections had been peaceful, there had been some major failings in the electoral process and EU governments would have to reach a consensus on whether the vote was credible.

One EU government, former colonial ruler Britain, said it was concerned that Zimbabwe had not enacted important electoral reform before the vote and by reports that large numbers of voters had been turned away.

The EU imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe in 2002 in protest at human rights abuses and violations of democracy.

In February, EU foreign ministers eased sanctions to reward Zimbabwe for political reforms and agreed to lift sanctions on a state-run diamond mining company, the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation, within a month of the elections provided they were judged peaceful and credible.

A month later, the EU suspended most remaining sanctions on Zimbabwe after voters approved a new constitution.

Reuters

By Obakeng Maje

Hartswater-The Police are investigating a case of shoplifting after three persons, two females(28 and 30) and one male(20) were arrested on Tuesday at approximately 15:00pm. 

“It is alleged that one of the women grabbed some clothing in a retail store and jumped into a getaway vehicle. A patrolling police vehicle spotted the suspects and stopped them in their tracks” Lieutenant Sergio Kock said. 

Kock said police found stolen clothes, cosmetics, baby milk and liquor with price tags inside the vehicle. 

Another female suspect who accompanied the first female into the premises was arrested inside the shop with some stolen goods in her possession. 

“It is alleged that this was the fifth shop targeted by the three suspects on that same day” he said. 

The value of the stolen goods is approximately R17 000,00 and white Honda Ballade used as an alleged get-away vehicle was also confiscated by the police. 

The suspects will appear in the Hartswater Magistrate’s Court on Thursday. 

The investigations continue.-TDN

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By Obakeng Maje

Danielskuil-Northern Cape police are investigating a Business Robbery case after four men robbed a chinese shop.

Police said four men allegedly entered a chinese shop in Danielskuil and pointed the owner and his wife with a firearm.

“It is alleged that on Thursday four unknown men entered a Chinese owned-shop in Mckenzie Street Danielskuil. The owner and his wife were held at gunpoint and they were bound with cable ties” colonel Priscilla Naidu said. 

Police spokesperson Naidu said the couple were allegedly locked in a bathroom and the suspects helped themselves to a large amount of cash and Cell C, Vodacom and MTN vouchers worth about R30 000. 

“The suspects had also removed the memory box from the CCTV camera and took it with them” she said.

The suspects fled the crime scene and police were called after the owners managed to freed themselves.

“Anyone who can assist police in tracing the suspects is asked to contact W/O Coetzer at SAPS Danielskuil on 053 3840558 or on 082 495 4681” Naidu concludes.-TDN

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Johannesburg – Northern Cape Premier Sylvia Lucas has called on the DA to allow the ANC to govern in the Nama Khoi municipality, Business Day reported on Thursday.

The Democratic Alliance has gone to court to block the ANC from tabling a motion of no-confidence in the party’s mayor before replacing him, the newspaper reported.

The DA reportedly claimed that six of the nine ANC councillors in the municipality had to be fired for allegedly boycotting council meetings between February and May.

Last month, DA Mayor Schalk Lubbe reportedly said the court had barred the ANC councillors from moving any motion until judgment was delivered.

Lucas said the DA’s decision to approach the court was an attempt to “stall a democratic process”.

She said it was unnecessary for the judiciary to get involved as it was a matter for the legislative arm to decide.

During by-elections in May, an ANC candidate ousted the DA candidate in the local ward, who failed to keep the seat for the party after the previous councillor resigned. 

SAPA