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CNN Sunday Morning

Elections Take Place in Zimbabwe

Aired March 10, 2002 - 10:15   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)

JEFF KOINANGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: ... people here want to exercise their democratic right. They want to vote. They're all pleading with us. As we were setting up our camera here, they were telling us please, tell the government, extend the voting to an extra day. Right now it doesn't look like it. It's highly unlikely it's going to happen. But these people have been standing in line a long time.

And we also add that there's a heavy police presence here right now -- riot police in gear. Tear gas canisters, helmets, batons, the works, there's a heavy presence here. In fact, as we were setting up or as we speak right now, they're walking towards the people and told them to move out of the way. It looks like in the next hour and a half it's going to get very interesting if these people aren't allowed to vote, the police, I guess, have their contingent plan. They want to do what they can to make sure that there are no problems.

Now if I can bring this young lady to me here right now. Her name is Zemuda Thandabani, 19-year old, first time voter. Zemuda, tell us what happened to you yesterday.

ZEMUDA THANDABANI, VOTER: I came here around 8:00 in the morning. I waited (UNINTELLIGIBLE) patiently and then were dismissed by the police around 7:00 in the evening, and I came here today again around 4:00 in the morning, and I'm still waiting patiently again.

KOINANGE: Zemuda, do you think you're going to get to vote today?

THANDABANI: Oh, I don't think so because it's around 5:00 -- they're going to close around 7:00. I don't think I'm going to vote today.

KOINANGE: And you've been waiting all -- the last few days with your infant son on your back?

THANDABANI: Yes with my infant on my back -- very hard.

KOINANGE: If they tell you, you can't vote, what are you going to do?

THANDABANI: Well (UNINTELLIGIBLE) the government to extend the day (UNINTELLIGIBLE) we've been waiting for two days and then we cannot vote. It's so sad -- so sad.

KOINANGE: Great. Thank you very much Zemuda. Good luck here.

THANDABANI: (UNINTELLIGIBLE)

KOINANGE: And I might add, Kyra that Zemuda is standing way towards the back of that line. This line extends all the way, at least another mile or so that way. I don't think that there is any way that she is going to get to vote by the end of this day, but again, that's the scene of most Zimbabweans. They're very thorough and very resilient. All they want is to exercise is their democratic right to vote -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Jeff Koinange, thank you so much, just for the human and political element there as the elections go forward in Zimbabwe, appreciate it -- Miles.

O'BRIEN: Remarkable images there.

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