Zimbabwe voters await run-off

Zimbabweans are preparing for the presidential election run-off between Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai on 27 June.

The leader of the opposition MDC, Morgan Tsvangirai has returned to Zimbabwe ahead of the run-off, having spent more than six weeks abroad.

As campaigning starts for the second round, the BBC News website revisits voters across the country.

"We have to bury the inflated
egos to achieve reconciliation"

Farai, Harare

"This game of politics defies reality" Masiza, Harare "Zimbabweans are losing hope in the electoral process" Sandra, Bulawayo

"Tsvangirai should not have been in exile" Richard, Hwange "We are sick and tired of waiting" Cleopas, Marondera

Read the panel's earlier comments

FARAI, HARARE

Farai, 24, is a student living in the capital,Harare.

I think a new wave of violence will flare up again, unless the African Union or Sadc (Southern African Development Community) sends in peacekeepers.

It is going to be a gruelling battle all the way up to 27 June run-off.

I am pleased that Morgan Tsvangirai has come back. It was important that he carried out his diplomatic mission abroad but he should have come back earlier to mobilise support.

I am not sure whether there was a plot to assassinate him but it was wise to stay away. He knew the risks. So it was a good move to stand back for a bit and wait for a more opportune time to return.

But I don't think it's helpful to talk about the period that he was away - what is critical is the next few weeks up to the election.

There is a funeral today for the MDC activist Tonderai Ndira at Mabvuku and it is very important that Morgan Tsvangirai asserts himself at that event and begins his campaign.

It will be difficult for the MDC to campaign especially in the rural areas because we have seen some gory scenes and we don't want to see a repeat of that.

I think the best thing would be for some sort of transitional or unity government headed by Tsvangirai but unfortunately I don't think this is very likely.

There is a political stand off at the moment between Zanu-PF and the MDC which cannot be solved by any election.

Some sort of reconciliation process could be the best way forward for us but it depends on there being the political will on both sides.

There needs to be a lot of swallowing of pride and we have to bury some of the inflated egos in order to achieve reconciliation.

Zanu-PF is run by hardliners. The MDC may have been responsible for a backlash of violence but it is difficult to substantiate.

Robert Mugabe always blames the West for Zimbabwe's problems. In the past certain African leaders have believed him but now I think there is a realisation that there are real issues on the ground that need to be addressed.

MASIZA, HARARE

Masiza (not his real name), 43, is an engineer living and working in Harare.

I am glad that Morgan Tsvangirai is back in Zimbabwe.

There was no need for him to come back any earlier than he did. His supporters understood why he was out of the country. The MDC needs international recognition and support, so it was necessary for him to go abroad.

Many people believe there was going to be an attempt to assassinate Tsvangirai. It would have been made to look as if he had died in an accident or mysterious circumstances, so that no one could prove it was an assassination.

There should definitely be international observers in Zimbabwe for the run-off vote, because it is more likely than ever that Zanu will try to manipulate the vote.

In the first round the election monitors left almost immediately after the day of voting so that allowed the electoral commission to delay the release of the results.

So it is really important that monitors arrive well before the voting, stay on polling day and do not leave until after the results are announced.

I think there will be more violence because people are drifting away from Zanu, so they have been trying to intimidate voters by perpetrating violence.

It is not just physical violence; it is psychological intimidatory tactics to scare people.

For example in 2005 Zanu unleashed operation "murambatsvina" (clear out the rubbish). They destroyed shacks to punish MDC supporters and drive them into the countryside. So maybe they will try something else like that to cow people into submission.

The situation with the refugees coming back from South Africa will make the election even more complicated, but it could favour the MDC.

They say there are three million refugees in South Africa, so if they were to come back and vote - even some of them - it could make a big difference.

The only people who leave a country are normally those who are disgruntled, so it is obvious which way they would vote.

But whether they are allowed to vote is a different matter.

Mugabe and Mbeki are friends, so it is possible that Mugabe might ask Mbeki to hold onto these guys until the election is over.

So South Africa could stop the Zimbabweans returning. It might seem far fetched, but this game of politics defies reality!

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RICHARD, HWANGE

Richard, 53, from Hwange in north-western Zimbabwe, works at Zimbabwe's electricity company.

I have always supported Zanu-PF and think that Mugabe will win the run-off.

A lot of white farmers have been taunting people here saying they will take back their land.

So many Zimbabweans will vote for Mugabe because they are worried that the MDC will take their land away from them and give it to the white farmers.

Money has been pouring into the MDC from abroad. If people are hungry and you pump in a lot of money, then they will change the way they vote.

If you look at the first round it was very close, and now that there is not a third candidate, Simba Makoni, some of his votes might go to Mugabe.

People say that Tsvangirai is a relative of Mugabe and that is why he was released from prison. So I don't think anyone would have tried to kill him.

Many Zanu members think that it may be time for Mugabe to hand over the reins of power - perhaps after the presidential run-off.

We hope that the Matabeleland people get some representation but both Mugabe and Tsvangirai are Shona, so they will still dominate and there will not be much change.

If we can forgive Ian Smith for what he did then, surely we can forgive each other?

There should be reconciliation here, but the question is what kind?

South Africa had a truth and reconciliation process for the world to see, but now they are butchering each other so what type of forgiveness is that?

Tsvangirai should not have been in exile. He should have been campaigning. He told everyone about his brothers being killed, while he was safe.

Tsvangirai seems to be a spokesman for the United States who are fomenting violence in Zimbabwe.

Gordon Brown should tell the USA to stay out and let Britain take the lead role in negotiations.

Britain created a monster in Mugabe but it is better to have the monster you know. Tsvangirai is an unknown quantity and the MDC is not a home grown party.

I am sure that Mugabe would talk to the British if they wanted to.

Britain betrayed Zimbabwe over the promise of money for land reform.

We do not trust the British. They were betting on Mugabe getting old and dying but he has not done that.

He remembers what the British said at the Lancaster House talks and he knows he was betrayed.

Both the MDC and Zanu have agreed that the violence will be stemmed.

The MDC are lying about the beatings they have suffered, besides many Zanu supporters are now being beaten, because the MDC have been orchestrating violence.

There is now a big influx of Zimbabweans coming back from South Africa so that will create more friction.

Mugabe should invite international observers so that no one can say afterwards the elections were not free and fair.

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SANDRA, BULAWAYO

Sandra (not her real name), 23, is an accountant in Zimbabwe's second city, Bulawayo.

The run-off will not be free and fair because people will be beaten up and there will be a lot of intimidation.

I shall vote for MDC despite the intimidation and victimization because I will do anything to get rid of this government.

There was a big delay in announcing the results of the first round because they tried to manipulate the vote and rig the elections.

There should be international observers, but I'm not sure they will be allowed in.

I do not think the MDC is exaggerating these incidents of violence. I have seen people fleeing their homes in the rural areas and coming to the cities to avoid being victimized.

People in the countryside will be afraid to vote for the MDC because they have seen what might happen to them.

Morgan Tsvangirai can still win despite all this rigging and fixing. Mugabe cannot displace all the MDC voters.

Mugabe could step down - nothing is impossible, but it is difficult to imagine this because he is still ranting against everyone.

He cannot live forever, but I hope that God does not take him until he has been held accountable for his atrocities.

Unfortunately Zimbabweans are losing hope in the electoral process as Mugabe always manages to keep himself in power.

People are very depressed. They are confused and angry. He offers them nothing - only broken promises.

I fear that by the time he eventually leaves office, the country will be dead.

Since the elections things have got worse every day.

There is no formal business and no transport. Things are very expensive and we cannot find goods in the shop.

The only way to survive is to work in the informal sector or import goods from South Africa on the black market.

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CLEOPAS, MARONDERA

Cleopas (not his real name), 38, is a church worker in Marondera, about 70km east of the capital, Harare.

A lot of people in the rural areas and even in the cities have been beaten up but we will not be intimated by it.

The tactic of beating people up will only backfire.

We want foreign observers here in Zimbabwe to ensure the elections are free and fair. We do not just want observers from Angola and Malawi who are sympathetic towards Mugabe.

MDC members went to the police station in Marondera complaining about the intimdation and said they would retaliate.

Since then things have been quiet and there have been no beatings.

It is clear to me that Tsvangirai won the first round. MDC are calling it daylight robbery.

The MDC won - even some Zanu officials have admitted it.

At the moment things are quiet here but we are sick and tired of what Zanu does and we are sick and tired of waiting.

Many teachers are not going to school because they are too afraid and so the children are not going either.

I only want to see change in Zimbabwe.

I want to see Mugabe out and see someone else in power.

The international community has not done enough - perhaps they too are afraid of Mugabe.

But I'm not sure why because he is an old man now.

Most people are wishing that he will die soon. Of course we cannot play God, but we are praying that this happens.

Mugabe is under pressure from young members of Zanu in the constituencies who are afraid of losing their farms and their privileges.

They are worried that if they die they won't be buried as heroes.

I do not think the police and army will be able to stop people voting for Tsvangirai.

The Green Bombers will continue to intimidate people but they cannot stop us.

Prevention is better than cure though, so it would be good if observers from the UN forced themselves into the country to ensure there are no more human rights abuses.

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The readers' panel has been selected from as wide a cross-section as possible and may not be representative of wider public opinion.