Early Turnout Low in Zimbabwean Election

Early turnout at the polls was reported low Friday in Zimbabwe’s runoff election, in which incumbent President Robert Mugabe was the only candidate.

Several people in a Harare township said they were told to vote or face reprisals, the BBC reported.

Some people will vote out of fear because even in the urban areas, a woman in Muture told the BBC. (People) will not feel safe moving about with an unmarked finger (showing they voted).

Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew from the runoff, citing the violence against his supporters. MDC officials say 86 followers have died in government-sanctioned violence.

Tsvangirai condemned the ballot Friday saying, Today is not an election. … Today’s results will be meaningless because they do not reflect the will of the people in Zimbabwe.

International criticism grew against Mugabe and his ruling ZANU-PF party. Representatives of the Group of Eight nations meeting in Japan said in a statement they deplore the government-sanctioned violence and intimidation occurring in the weeks before the election, CNN reported.

Friday’s election came three months after Mugabe finished second to Tsvangirai in the initial ballot. While Tsvangirai captured more votes than Mugabe, he officially didn’t receive the requisite majority to be declared the winner outright, forcing the runoff.