Harare:  Widespread voter intimidation and low turnout marked Zimbabwe's one-candidate presidential runoff today, a bizarre vote that will keep President Robert Mugabe firmly at the helm of the impoverished African nation he has led since 1980.

Even though opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai had withdrawn from the runoff against Mugabe because of intense state-sponsored violence, residents were forced to vote anyway. Voters were threatened by violence, arson or roving bands of government supporters searching for those without an ink-stained finger.

Tsvangirai said today's results would "reflect only the fear of the people."

"What is happening today is not an election. It is an exercise in mass intimidation," he said at a news conference.

Tsvangirai added that he still wanted negotiations about a transitional authority for Zimbabwe, but was not sure whether he could talk with Mugabe.

Today's atmosphere of fear and intimidation contrasted with the excitement and hope for change that marked the first round of voting in March. There was no official opposition boycott today, but many observers noticed a low turnout. As polls closed at 7 p.m. (2230 IST), officials at one Harare station said they hadn t seen a voter for several hours.

Paramilitary police in riot gear deployed in a central Harare park, then began patrolling the city. Militant Mugabe supporters roamed the streets, singing revolutionary songs, heckling people and asking why they were not voting.

Source : PTI