Robert Mugabe enjoys popularity surge among Zimbabwe's voters

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

Zimbabwe's president, Robert Mugabe, is enjoying a surge of popularity that could propel him to victory in the country's next elections, an independent poll of voters' intentions suggests.

Mugabe would command the support of 31% of voters in a presidential election, ahead of rival Morgan Tsvangirai on 19%, according to research for the US-based pro-democracy group Freedom House. Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) dismissed the results, noting that Mugabe's supporters were outnumbered by voters who refused to declare their intentions. But it is likely to boost the confidence of Mugabe's Zanu-PF party heading into elections expected next year.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/aug/22/robert-mugabe-popularity-zimbabwe-voters

[Archae]

1. I smell stuffing the ballot boxes.

Mugabe is also a good friend of Hugo Chavez.

[kayakjohnny]

2. I heard it was because he changed his name to Bobby... Bobby Mugabe. It just sounds better.

And may have resonated with voters.

It sounds so friendly.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

3. Why does that not surprise me?

Mugabe is also a good friend of Hugo Chavez.

[David__77]

4. So the staunch opponents of Mugabe concede his popularity.

Some Westerners misguidedly think he has little public support. He does indeed. ZANU-PF is a strong party with a large mass base, and is well-respected for its role in freeing the country from colonialism.

[Odin2005]

5. Oh look, a Mugabe supporter.

[David__77]

6. No, the media said, "oh look, Mugabe supporters" in Zimbabwe.

I was simply saying that I think it odd that some might be surprised by this. Mugabe was a terrible backward political agenda in the cultural realm. He's a petty chauvinist and has no strategy that can lead the Zimbabwean people to economic development and social stability. I would certainly not vote for him were I a Zimbabwean citizen - not at all.

Ideally, a political force would emerge in Zimbabwe that is harmonized with the best forces of the South African liberation alliance that has ruled since 1994: ANC-SACP-COSATU. I certainly would have preferred that Mugabe make way for another candidate.

[Odin2005]

7. DOH, my appologies.