VOA常速英语2007-Concerns Growing in Zimbabwe About Elections Nex

By Peta Thornycroft
Southern Africa
12 October 2007

There is growing concern in Zimbabwe that presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for next March will not live up to the expectations of the people. Peta Thornycroft reports that one of the major stumbling blocks is the divided opposition¹, the Movement for Democratic Change.

Many Zimbabweans are deeply concerned that the two factions² of the Movement for Democratic Change, or MDC, will compete both against each other and against the ruling ZANU-PF in elections next March. Both factions will also put up candidates against President Robert Mugabe in the presidential poll which, for the first time, will be held simultaneously³ with the vote for members of parliament.

Eldred Masunungure, director of the Mass Policy Institute in Harare, says that as things stand now, it seems clear that the MDC will get very few seats in the legislature. "I interact with others at work and elsewhere and that decision to stand against each other is a big disappointment," he said, "and it is going to disarm⁴ the support base of both [factions of the Movement for Democratic Change], its a highly demoralizing decision."

The elections are intended to mark the end of an intensive period of talks between the two opposition factions of the MDC and the ruling ZANU-PF, which are facilitated by South Africa. The goal is free and fair elections under a new constitution that will usher⁵ in a renewal⁶ of democracy in Zimbabwe.

But civil society activists⁷, both factions of the MDC, and independent observers say that even if a new constitution is agreed on this month, there will be insufficient⁸ time to put measures into place to ensure a free and fair election by next March. Such measures will also need to ensure a halt to state violence against the opposition, and to allow free political activity and free speech.

All elections since 2000, the first time the Movement for Democratic Change challenged the ruling ZANU-PF, have been accompanied by credible⁹ allegations of vote rigging and violence against opposition candidates and their supporters.

Political analysts¹⁰ in South Africa, who are close to the negotiations¹¹ but do not want to be identified at this sensitive stage in the negotiations, say the talks could break down if President Mugabe insists on elections in March.

1 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

2 factions   

组织中的小派别，派系( faction的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The gens also lives on in the "factions." 氏族此外还继续存在于“factions〔“帮”〕中。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• rival factions within the administration 政府中的对立派别

3 simultaneously   

adv.同时发生地，同时进行地

参考例句：

• The radar beam can track a number of targets almost simultaneously.雷达波几乎可以同时追着多个目标。
• The Windows allow a computer user to execute multiple programs simultaneously.Windows允许计算机用户同时运行多个程序。

4 disarm   

v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和

参考例句：

• The world has waited 12 years for Iraq to disarm. 全世界等待伊拉克解除武装已有12年之久。
• He has rejected every peaceful opportunity offered to him to disarm.他已经拒绝了所有能和平缴械的机会。

5 usher   

n.带位员，招待员；vt.引导，护送；vi.做招待，担任引座员

参考例句：

• The usher seated us in the front row.引座员让我们在前排就座。
• They were quickly ushered away.他们被迅速领开。

6 renewal   

adj.(契约)延期，续订，更新，复活，重来

参考例句：

• Her contract is coming up for renewal in the autumn.她的合同秋天就应该续签了。
• Easter eggs symbolize the renewal of life.复活蛋象征新生。

7 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 insufficient   

adj.(for，of)不足的，不够的

参考例句：

• There was insufficient evidence to convict him.没有足够证据给他定罪。
• In their day scientific knowledge was insufficient to settle the matter.在他们的时代，科学知识还不能足以解决这些问题。

9 credible   

adj.可信任的，可靠的

参考例句：

• The news report is hardly credible.这则新闻报道令人难以置信。
• Is there a credible alternative to the nuclear deterrent?是否有可以取代核威慑力量的可靠办法？

10 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

11 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。