Situation Report: Zimbabwe's 2005 Elections: Overture or finale? Chris Maroleng

There are now some three weeks to go before Zimbabweans go to the polls to elect a new parliament on 31 March, and most observers agree that the outcome is almost certain to be a comfortable victory for the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union – Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF). There is also general consensus among the majority of commentators that whatever the official position taken by such observers as are permitted to view the process, “free and fair” elections in the current context are impossible.