African Union (AU) Head of Observer Mission Olusegun Obasanjo said Wednesday that voting in Zimbabwe was progressing smoothly and that there was nothing so far to discredit the polls.

He was speaking to journalists soon after touring a polling station in Harare's Warren Park Constituency.

"There is nothing so far to worry about. We have received reports from observers in the field and they are minor incidents. I do not see anything serious enough to doubt the credibility of the election outcome if it continues like this for now," Obasanjo, the former Nigerian president, said.

Obasanjo is leading a 60-member AU observer team to observe the elections in which President Robert Mugabe is squaring off with main rival Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.

With the way voting was going, Obasanjo said he believed "maybe at the end the day we can say uhuru (Swahili word for freedom) but it's too early to say uhuru".

Mugabe and Tsvangirai, who have both cast the votes, predicted outright victory for their parties but the new leader will face challenges of a weak economy and high unemployment levels.

A presidential candidate requires 50 percent plus one vote for an outright win. In the event that no candidate gets that, a run- off will be held on September 11 between the top two contestants. Endi

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)