2 8 Harare Harare NNP 8 9 , , , 10 15 March March NNP 16 18 14 14 CD 19 20 ( ( ( 20 26 XINHUA XINHUA NNP 26 27 ) ) ) 28 30 – -- : 31 38 Despite despite IN 39 42 the the DT 43 55 shortcomings shortcoming NNS 56 58 of of IN 59 68 incumbent incumbent JJ 69 78 President President NNP 79 85 Robert Robert NNP 86 92 Mugabe Mugabe NNP 92 94 ’s 's POS 95 99 rule rule NN 100 105 which which WDT 106 109 has have VBZ 110 114 seen see VBN 115 123 Zimbabwe Zimbabwe NNP 123 125 ’s 's POS 126 134 economic economic JJ 135 142 decline decline NN 143 145 in in IN 146 152 recent recent JJ 153 158 years year NNS 158 159 , , , 160 163 the the DT 164 175 78-year-old 78-year-old JJ 176 182 leader leader NN 183 186 has have VBZ 187 194 carried carry VBN 195 198 off off RP 199 202 the the DT 203 207 palm palm NN 208 210 in in IN 211 214 the the DT 215 222 country country NN 222 224 ’s 's POS 225 239 closest-fought closest-fought JJ 240 252 presidential presidential JJ 253 261 election election NN 262 267 since since IN 268 280 independence independence NN 281 283 22 22 CD 284 289 years year NNS 290 293 ago ago RB 293 294 . . . 301 304 The the DT 305 315 nationwide nationwide JJ 316 323 polling polling NN 324 331 results result NNS 331 332 , , , 333 341 released release VBN 342 344 by by IN 345 348 the the DT 349 356 country country NN 356 358 ’s 's POS 359 368 electoral electoral JJ 369 380 authorities authority NNS 381 390 Wednesday Wednesday NNP 390 391 , , , 392 396 gave give VBD 397 403 Mugabe Mugabe NNP 404 406 of of IN 407 410 the the DT 411 417 ruling rule VBG 418 426 Zimbabwe Zimbabwe NNP 427 434 African African NNP 435 443 National National NNP 444 449 Union Union NNP 450 452 – -- : 453 462 Patriotic Patriotic NNP 463 468 Front Front NNP 469 470 ( ( ( 470 477 ZANU-PF ZANU-PF NNP 477 478 ) ) ) 479 484 1,685 1,685 CD 484 485 , , , 486 489 212 212 CD 490 495 votes vote NNS 495 496 , , , 497 499 or or CC 500 502 56 56 CD 503 510 percent percent NN 510 511 , , , 512 519 against against IN 520 523 his his PRP$ 524 531 closest close JJS 532 537 rival rival NN 537 538 , , , 539 545 Morgan Morgan NNP 546 556 Tsvangirai Tsvangirai NNP 557 559 of of IN 560 563 the the DT 564 572 Movement Movement NNP 573 576 for for IN 577 587 Democratic democratic JJ 588 594 Change Change NNP 595 596 ( ( ( 596 599 MDC MDC NNP 599 600 ) ) ) 600 601 , , , 602 606 with with IN 607 608 1 1 CD 608 609 , , , 610 617 258,401 258,401 CD 618 623 votes vote NNS 623 624 , , , 625 627 or or CC 628 632 41.7 41.7 CD 633 640 percent percent NN 640 641 . . . 648 649 “ `` `` 649 650 I I PRP 651 653 am be VBP 654 656 77 77 CD 657 662 years year NNS 663 666 old old JJ 666 667 , , , 668 671 but but CC 672 673 I I PRP 674 676 am be VBP 677 682 still still RB 683 688 going go VBG 689 695 strong strong JJ 695 696 . . . 697 699 My my PRP$ 700 704 fist fist NN 705 712 carries carry VBZ 713 714 a a DT 715 720 force force NN 720 721 , , , 722 727 which which WDT 728 731 can can MD 732 736 make make VB 737 740 one one CD 741 747 tumble tumble JJ 748 751 and and CC 752 756 roll roll NN 757 761 over over IN 762 764 77 77 CD 765 770 times time NNS 770 771 , , , 771 772 ” '' '' 773 779 Mugabe Mugabe NNP 780 787 boasted boast VBD 788 790 in in IN 791 792 a a DT 793 799 recent recent JJ 800 805 rally rally NN 805 806 . . . 813 818 After after IN 819 828 defending defend VBG 829 832 his his PRP$ 833 834 “ `` `` 834 839 crown crown NN 839 840 ” '' '' 841 843 to to TO 844 847 his his PRP$ 848 858 last-ditch last-ditch JJ 859 866 efforts effort NNS 866 867 , , , 868 871 the the DT 872 879 veteran veteran JJ 880 889 statesman statesman NN 889 890 , , , 891 894 who who WP 895 902 bragged brag VBD 903 906 him him PRP 907 908 a a DT 909 910 “ `` `` 910 915 young young JJ 916 919 old old JJ 920 923 man man NN 923 924 ” '' '' 925 929 with with IN 930 938 abundant abundant JJ 939 947 reserves reserve NNS 948 950 of of IN 951 957 energy energy NN 958 960 to to TO 961 969 continue continue VB 970 976 ruling rule VBG 977 985 Zimbabwe Zimbabwe NNP 985 986 , , , 987 990 has have VBZ 991 998 finally finally RB 999 1002 won win VBN 1003 1006 the the DT 1007 1016 political political JJ 1017 1023 boxing boxing NN 1024 1029 match match NN 1030 1037 against against IN 1038 1048 Tsvangirai Tsvangirai NNP 1048 1049 , , , 1050 1051 a a DT 1052 1056 more more RBR 1057 1065 youthful youthful JJ 1066 1074 opponent opponent NN 1074 1075 , , , 1076 1079 who who WP 1080 1090 celebrated celebrate VBD 1091 1094 his his PRP$ 1095 1099 50th 50th JJ 1100 1108 birthday birthday NN 1109 1111 on on IN 1112 1118 Sunday Sunday NNP 1118 1119 . . . 1126 1134 Analysts analyst NNS 1135 1139 said say VBD 1140 1146 Mugabe Mugabe NNP 1146 1147 , , , 1148 1151 the the DT 1152 1156 last last JJ 1157 1159 of of IN 1160 1163 the the DT 1164 1167 old old JJ 1168 1175 African african JJ 1176 1188 nationalists nationalist NNS 1189 1192 who who WP 1193 1197 rode ride VBP 1198 1200 to to TO 1201 1206 power power VB 1207 1209 on on IN 1210 1213 the the DT 1214 1222 colonial colonial JJ 1223 1228 winds wind NNS 1229 1231 of of IN 1232 1238 change change NN 1238 1239 , , , 1240 1243 has have VBZ 1244 1247 won win VBN 1248 1250 on on IN 1251 1254 the the DT 1255 1263 strength strength NN 1264 1266 of of IN 1267 1270 the the DT 1271 1277 appeal appeal NN 1278 1280 of of IN 1281 1288 ZANU-PF ZANU-PF NNP 1288 1290 ’s 's POS 1291 1295 land land NN 1296 1302 policy policy NN 1302 1303 , , , 1304 1309 under under IN 1310 1315 which which WDT 1316 1319 the the DT 1320 1330 government government NN 1331 1334 was be VBD 1335 1342 seizing seize VBG 1343 1347 idle idle JJ 1348 1353 farms farm NNS 1354 1358 from from IN 1359 1364 white white JJ 1365 1372 farmers farmer NNS 1372 1373 , , , 1374 1377 who who WP 1378 1381 own own VBP 1382 1385 the the DT 1386 1390 bulk bulk NN 1391 1393 of of IN 1394 1397 the the DT 1398 1405 country country NN 1405 1407 ’s 's POS 1408 1414 arable arable JJ 1415 1419 land land NN 1419 1420 , , , 1421 1423 to to TO 1424 1432 resettle resettle VB 1433 1441 landless landless JJ 1442 1450 peasants peasant NNS 1450 1451 . . . 1458 1462 They they PRP 1463 1467 said say VBD 1468 1471 the the DT 1472 1482 re-elected re-elected JJ 1483 1492 president president NN 1493 1501 received receive VBD 1502 1506 much much JJ 1507 1509 of of IN 1510 1513 his his PRP$ 1514 1519 votes vote NNS 1520 1524 from from IN 1525 1528 the the DT 1529 1534 rural rural JJ 1535 1540 areas area NNS 1540 1541 , , , 1542 1547 where where WRB 1548 1553 voter voter NN 1554 1561 turnout turnout NN 1562 1565 was be VBD 1566 1576 considered consider VBN 1577 1581 much much RB 1582 1588 higher high JJR 1589 1593 than than IN 1594 1598 that that DT 1599 1601 in in IN 1602 1607 towns town NNS 1608 1611 and and CC 1612 1618 cities city NNS 1618 1619 . . . 1626 1631 Their their PRP$ 1632 1640 comments comment NNS 1641 1645 were be VBD 1646 1652 echoed echo VBN 1653 1655 by by IN 1656 1661 rural rural JJ 1662 1668 voters voter NNS 1668 1669 , , , 1670 1673 who who WP 1674 1678 said say VBD 1679 1682 the the DT 1683 1691 majority majority NN 1692 1694 of of IN 1695 1699 them them PRP 1699 1700 , , , 1701 1704 who who WP 1705 1710 voted vote VBD 1711 1714 for for IN 1715 1722 ZANU-PF ZANU-PF NNP 1722 1723 , , , 1724 1728 were be VBD 1729 1735 voting vote VBG 1736 1739 for for IN 1740 1744 land land NN 1744 1745 , , , 1746 1749 and and CC 1750 1754 they they PRP 1755 1759 will will MD 1760 1763 get get VB 1764 1766 it it PRP 1766 1767 . . . 1774 1775 “ `` `` 1775 1781 People people NNS 1782 1784 in in IN 1785 1788 the the DT 1789 1794 rural rural JJ 1795 1800 areas area NNS 1801 1808 support support VBP 1809 1812 the the DT 1813 1819 ruling rule VBG 1820 1825 party party NN 1826 1833 because because IN 1834 1837 our our PRP$ 1838 1843 party party NN 1844 1847 has have VBZ 1848 1852 been be VBN 1853 1860 genuine genuine JJ 1861 1863 on on IN 1864 1867 its its PRP$ 1868 1874 policy policy NN 1875 1877 on on IN 1878 1882 land land NN 1883 1889 reform reform NN 1889 1890 . . . 1891 1894 The the DT 1895 1905 government government NN 1906 1909 has have VBZ 1910 1914 been be VBN 1915 1921 giving give VBG 1922 1924 us us PRP 1925 1929 land land NN 1930 1933 and and CC 1934 1938 that that WDT 1939 1943 will will MD 1944 1947 win win VB 1948 1950 us us PRP 1951 1956 votes vote VBZ 1956 1957 , , , 1957 1958 ” '' '' 1959 1963 said say VBD 1964 1974 Kudakwashe Kudakwashe NNP 1975 1982 Mapfumo Mapfumo NNP 1982 1983 , , , 1984 1989 whose whose WP$ 1990 1996 family family NN 1997 2000 was be VBD 2001 2006 among among IN 2007 2010 the the DT 2011 2016 first first JJ 2017 2030 beneficiaries beneficiary NNS 2031 2033 of of IN 2034 2037 the the DT 2038 2042 land land NN 2043 2049 reform reform NN 2049 2050 . . . 2057 2058 “ `` `` 2058 2060 We we PRP 2061 2065 were be VBD 2066 2071 given give VBN 2072 2073 a a DT 2074 2079 piece piece NN 2080 2082 of of IN 2083 2087 land land NN 2088 2093 which which WDT 2094 2096 my my PRP$ 2097 2104 parents parent NNS 2105 2109 have have VBP 2110 2114 been be VBN 2115 2119 able able JJ 2120 2122 to to TO 2123 2127 farm farm NN 2128 2131 and and CC 2132 2139 provide provide VBP 2140 2142 us us PRP 2143 2147 with with IN 2148 2152 food food NN 2152 2153 , , , 2153 2154 ” '' '' 2155 2159 said say VBD 2160 2167 Mapfumo Mapfumo NNP 2167 2168 , , , 2169 2170 a a DT 2171 2178 ZANU-PF ZANU-PF NNP 2179 2187 activist activist NN 2187 2188 . . . 2195 2203 Analysts analyst NNS 2204 2208 said say VBD 2209 2216 another another DT 2217 2223 reason reason NN 2224 2227 for for IN 2228 2234 Mugabe Mugabe NNP 2235 2237 to to TO 2238 2241 win win VB 2242 2245 the the DT 2246 2250 poll poll NN 2251 2253 is be VBZ 2254 2257 his his PRP$ 2258 2262 wise wise JJ 2263 2271 campaign campaign NN 2272 2280 strategy strategy NN 2280 2281 . . . 2288 2294 Mugabe Mugabe NNP 2294 2295 , , , 2296 2301 whose whose WP$ 2302 2313 strongholds stronghold NNS 2314 2317 are be VBP 2318 2320 in in IN 2321 2324 the the DT 2325 2336 countryside countryside NN 2336 2337 , , , 2338 2342 took take VBD 2343 2351 election election NN 2352 2360 campaign campaign NN 2361 2363 to to TO 2364 2369 urban urban JJ 2370 2375 areas area NNS 2375 2376 , , , 2377 2382 where where WRB 2383 2393 Tsvangirai Tsvangirai NNP 2394 2401 enjoyed enjoy VBD 2402 2406 much much JJ 2407 2414 support support NN 2415 2420 among among IN 2421 2426 those those DT 2427 2432 urban urban JJ 2433 2440 workers worker NNS 2440 2441 . . . 2448 2453 While while IN 2454 2463 depending depend VBG 2464 2471 heavily heavily RB 2472 2474 on on IN 2475 2478 his his PRP$ 2479 2484 rural rural JJ 2485 2492 support support NN 2492 2493 , , , 2494 2500 Mugabe Mugabe NNP 2501 2505 told tell VBD 2506 2515 thousands thousand NNS 2516 2518 of of IN 2519 2529 urbanizers urbanizer NNS 2530 2532 he he PRP 2533 2538 would would MD 2539 2544 focus focus VB 2545 2547 on on IN 2548 2555 housing housing NN 2556 2559 and and CC 2560 2563 job job NN 2564 2572 creation creation NN 2573 2575 if if IN 2576 2586 re-elected re-elected JJ 2586 2587 . . . 2594 2595 “ `` `` 2595 2597 We we PRP 2598 2602 want want VBP 2603 2605 to to TO 2606 2610 come come VB 2611 2613 up up RP 2614 2618 with with IN 2619 2627 policies policy NNS 2628 2632 that that WDT 2633 2637 will will MD 2638 2644 result result VB 2645 2647 in in IN 2648 2651 the the DT 2652 2660 creation creation NN 2661 2663 of of IN 2664 2668 more more JJR 2669 2673 jobs job NNS 2674 2677 for for IN 2678 2681 the the DT 2682 2688 youths youth NNS 2689 2692 and and CC 2693 2698 those those DT 2699 2706 leaving leave VBG 2707 2713 school school NN 2714 2717 and and CC 2718 2726 colleges college NNS 2726 2727 . . . 2728 2731 The the DT 2732 2737 issue issue NN 2738 2740 of of IN 2741 2745 good good JJ 2746 2753 housing housing NN 2754 2757 and and CC 2758 2765 similar similar JJ 2766 2774 services service NNS 2775 2777 is be VBZ 2778 2782 also also RB 2783 2784 a a DT 2785 2788 top top JJ 2789 2797 priority priority NN 2798 2800 of of IN 2801 2804 the the DT 2805 2815 government government NN 2815 2816 , , , 2816 2817 ” '' '' 2818 2824 Mugabe Mugabe NNP 2825 2829 said say VBD 2830 2832 in in IN 2833 2834 a a DT 2835 2841 recent recent JJ 2842 2847 rally rally NN 2848 2852 held hold VBN 2853 2855 in in IN 2856 2859 the the DT 2860 2867 capital capital NN 2868 2874 Harare Harare NNP 2874 2875 , , , 2876 2879 the the DT 2880 2887 biggest big JJS 2888 2897 political political JJ 2898 2906 fortress fortress NN 2907 2910 for for IN 2911 2914 the the DT 2915 2918 MDC MDC NNP 2919 2924 party party NN 2924 2925 . . . 2932 2934 Of of IN 2935 2938 the the DT 2939 2948 1,685,212 1,685,212 CD 2949 2954 votes vote NNS 2955 2961 Mugabe Mugabe NNP 2962 2970 garnered garner VBD 2970 2971 , , , 2972 2977 there there EX 2978 2981 are be VBP 2982 2986 some some DT 2987 2991 more more JJR 2992 2997 votes vote NNS 2998 3004 coming come VBG 3005 3009 from from IN 3010 3015 towns town NNS 3016 3019 and and CC 3020 3026 cities city NNS 3026 3027 , , , 3028 3033 which which WDT 3034 3038 were be VBD 3039 3047 boosting boost VBG 3048 3051 his his PRP$ 3052 3056 lead lead NN 3057 3059 in in IN 3060 3063 the the DT 3064 3071 crucial crucial JJ 3072 3076 poll poll NN 3076 3077 . . . 3084 3091 Despite despite IN 3092 3095 the the DT 3096 3104 economic economic JJ 3105 3114 hardships hardship NNS 3115 3118 and and CC 3119 3123 food food NN 3124 3133 shortages shortage NNS 3134 3143 currently currently RB 3144 3155 experienced experience VBN 3156 3158 by by IN 3159 3170 Zimbabweans zimbabwean NNS 3170 3171 , , , 3172 3180 analysts analyst NNS 3181 3185 said say VBD 3186 3191 there there EX 3192 3195 are be VBP 3196 3201 other other JJ 3202 3207 major major JJ 3208 3220 achievements achievement NNS 3221 3227 Mugabe Mugabe NNP 3227 3229 ’s 's POS 3230 3240 government government NN 3241 3243 is be VBZ 3244 3252 credited credit VBN 3253 3256 for for IN 3256 3257 . . . 3264 3270 During during IN 3271 3277 Mugabe Mugabe NNP 3277 3279 ’s 's POS 3280 3292 22-year-rule 22-year-rule NN 3292 3293 , , , 3294 3297 the the DT 3298 3305 country country NN 3306 3310 used use VBN 3311 3313 to to TO 3314 3319 boast boast NN 3320 3322 of of IN 3323 3329 having have VBG 3330 3331 a a DT 3332 3336 good good JJ 3337 3346 education education NN 3347 3353 system system NN 3354 3357 and and CC 3358 3359 a a DT 3360 3364 good good JJ 3365 3371 health health NN 3372 3378 system system NN 3378 3379 , , , 3380 3385 which which WDT 3386 3389 was be VBD 3390 3392 to to TO 3393 3397 some some DT 3398 3404 extent extent NN 3405 3413 affected affect VBN 3414 3416 by by IN 3417 3420 the the DT 3421 3431 lackluster lackluster JJ 3432 3439 economy economy NN 3439 3440 . . . 3441 3448 However however RB 3448 3449 , , , 3450 3451 a a DT 3452 3457 large large JJ 3458 3464 number number NN 3465 3467 of of IN 3468 3479 middle-aged middle-aged JJ 3480 3486 people people NNS 3486 3487 , , , 3488 3491 who who WP 3492 3501 benefited benefit VBD 3502 3506 from from IN 3507 3513 Mugabe Mugabe NNP 3513 3515 ’s 's POS 3516 3521 reign reign NN 3521 3522 , , , 3523 3526 are be VBP 3527 3532 still still RB 3533 3542 nostalgic nostalgic JJ 3543 3548 about about IN 3549 3552 the the DT 3553 3557 lost lose VBN 3558 3562 time time NN 3563 3566 and and CC 3567 3572 voted vote VBD 3573 3576 for for IN 3577 3580 him him PRP 3581 3585 with with IN 3586 3587 a a DT 3588 3594 strong strong JJ 3595 3599 hope hope NN 3600 3603 for for IN 3604 3612 economic economic JJ 3613 3620 revival revival NN 3620 3621 . . . 3628 3636 Although although IN 3637 3641 some some DT 3642 3648 things thing NNS 3649 3653 have have VBP 3654 3658 gone go VBN 3659 3664 wrong wrong JJ 3665 3670 under under IN 3671 3678 ZANU-PF ZANU-PF NNP 3679 3689 leadership leadership NN 3689 3690 , , , 3691 3702 Zimbabweans Zimbabweans NNP 3703 3708 still still RB 3709 3714 chose choose VBD 3715 3721 Mugabe Mugabe NNP 3721 3722 , , , 3723 3726 the the DT 3727 3736 political political JJ 3737 3743 strong strong JJ 3744 3747 man man NN 3747 3748 , , , 3749 3756 because because IN 3757 3761 they they PRP 3762 3766 said say VBD 3767 3771 they they PRP 3772 3776 were be VBD 3777 3782 lured lure VBN 3783 3785 by by IN 3786 3789 his his PRP$ 3790 3800 Millennium Millennium NNP 3801 3809 Economic Economic NNP 3810 3818 Recovery Recovery NNP 3819 3826 Program Program NNP 3826 3827 . . . 3834 3839 Under under IN 3840 3843 his his PRP$ 3844 3853 blueprint blueprint NN 3853 3854 , , , 3855 3858 the the DT 3859 3869 government government NN 3870 3875 hopes hop VBZ 3876 3878 to to TO 3879 3888 stabilize stabilize VB 3889 3892 the the DT 3893 3900 economy economy NN 3901 3908 through through IN 3909 3919 curtailing curtail VBG 3920 3925 state state NN 3926 3937 expenditure expenditure NN 3937 3938 , , , 3939 3948 reforming reform VBG 3949 3955 public public JJ 3956 3967 enterprises enterprise NNS 3968 3971 and and CC 3972 3981 expanding expand VBG 3982 3993 agriculture agriculture NN 3993 3994 . . .