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| Robert Mugambe and Morgan Tsvangirai : Image Courtesy |
Crowds thronging Zanu PF and MDC-T rallies against a backdrop of recent surveys by Freedom House and Afrobarometer show that next week's elections would be a close call between the two parties.
Judging by rallies held so far, Zanu PF still maintains a stranglehold on the three Mashonaland provinces, while MDC-T controls most towns and cities like Harare and Bulawayo, and provinces like Manicaland and Matabeleland.
According to an analysis of the voting trends in the March 2008 polls by Zimbabwe Independent, indications are that the voting patterns are not going to dramatically shift.
For the first time since Independence in 1980, Zanu PF lost presidential elections and its parliament majority to the MDC-T in March 2008.
Tsvangirai won the presidential poll with 1 195 562 votes against Mugabe's 1 079 730 votes -- a huge gap of 115 832 votes.
Mugabe won in Mashonaland West, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central, Masvingo, Midlands and Matabeleland South, while Tsvangirai got Harare, Bulawayo, Manicaland and Matabeleland North provinces.
Mugabe went on to win the discredited June presidential run-off poll -- one of the most violent poll in Zimbabwe's history -- in which he contested alone after Tsvangirai pulled out citing political violence and intimidation against his supporters.
Although Zanu PF lost its parliamentary majority, it won the popular vote in parliamentary elections with 1 111 625 voting for the party compared to 1 038 617 for MDC-T in an election which Mugabe faced bhora musango (internal electoral sabotage) from disgruntled party members.
MDC-T won 100 seats, Zanu PF won 99, MDC 10 and one went to an independent.
The former liberation movement now faces the fight of its life against MDC-T on July 31.