A study by the Pretoria-based Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDISA) says the electoral irregularities in Zimbabwe’s parliamentary elections last March appear to have been "highly organized." It says evidence shows that the constituencies were "controlled" by state agencies that determined movement in and out of the area. It also says there is evidence of support for the perpetrators of political intimidation.
An author of the report, Tony Reeler, told Voice of America reporter William Eagle that Zimbabwe's ruling party was able to engage the opposition in the government-created system for protesting vote irregularities. That in turn led to a de facto recognition of the legitimacy of the polls among critics and regional observers. As a result, neighboring governments accepted the outcome of the polls.
