VOA标准英语2012--Zimbabwean Diaspora Fears Mugabe May Steal Another Election

Zimbabwean Diaspora Fears Mugabe May Steal Another Election

Zimbawean protesters have been holding monthly protests around the world this year, such as one recently here in Washington, outside the South African Embassy.

South African President Jacob Zuma is the main mediator² of the ongoing³ political crisis in Zimbabwe, four years after an accord known as the Global Political Agreement (GPA) was signed to ensure reforms and free and fair elections.

A national unity⁴ government was set up, but protest organizer Den¹ Moyo says there has been no progress on reforms.

"We are saying Mr. Zuma as we stand here as Zimbabweans, we are calling upon you to use the powers vested in you as the mediator of the GPA in Zimbabwe to ensure that there is a road map to free and fair and indisputable elections," said Moyo.

One stipulation⁵ is that there must be constitutional change before the next round of voting. The Africa director at the Wilson Center in Washington, Steve McDonald, says President Mugabe is trying to get re-elected as soon as possible, so he may try to convince South African mediators to change their view on the need for constitutional reform.

"He wants to get beyond the power-sharing arrangement," said McDonald. "He is under pressure from the South Africans who have declared that they will not recognize or work with him if the preparations for the election do not precede it and the main thing there is the constitutional referendum."

At recent celebrations marking 32 years of Zimbabwe's independence and his power, the 88-year-old president called on political parties to go beyond the violence of recent elections.

"We must take absolute care and caution and ensure that the fights of yesterday are buried in the past," said Mugabe.

Mugabe has denied rigging previous elections. He has said he needs to stay in power to correct the wrongs of previous white minority rule and ensure the economic empowerment of Zimbabweans.

Back in Washington, Nyare Joe sang opposition⁶ protest songs. She said Zimbabweans inside Zimbabwe are not free to question anything related to Mr. Mugabe or his ZANU-PF party.

"I want everybody even in my country to be able to do anything, once it is a free country," said Joe. "Mugabe - now you cannot talk about the name of Mugabe or you go to jail. You cannot even laugh when ZANU-PF is there, or you go to jail."

The protesters warned if there is not more pressure against President Mugabe, he would remain in power as long as he is still alive, through stalling tactics or rigged and violent elections. 

Efforts to reform the constitution have gone slowly, while no date has been set for the looming⁷ presidential and legislative⁸ election. 

1 den   

n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室

参考例句：

• There is a big fox den on the back hill.后山有一个很大的狐狸窝。
• The only way to catch tiger cubs is to go into tiger's den.不入虎穴焉得虎子。

2 mediator   

n.调解人，中介人

参考例句：

• He always takes the role of a mediator in any dispute.他总是在争论中充当调停人的角色。
• He will appear in the role of mediator.他将出演调停者。

3 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

4 unity   

n.团结，联合，统一；和睦，协调

参考例句：

• When we speak of unity,we do not mean unprincipled peace.所谓团结，并非一团和气。
• We must strengthen our unity in the face of powerful enemies.大敌当前，我们必须加强团结。

5 stipulation   

n.契约，规定，条文；条款说明

参考例句：

• There's no stipulation as to the amount you can invest. 没有关于投资额的规定。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The only stipulation the building society makes is that house must be insured. 建屋互助会作出的唯一规定是房屋必须保险。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 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。

7 looming   

n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近

参考例句：

• The foothills were looming ahead through the haze. 丘陵地带透过薄雾朦胧地出现在眼前。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Then they looked up. Looming above them was Mount Proteome. 接着他们往上看，在其上隐约看到的是蛋白质组山。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 回顾与展望

8 legislative   

n.立法机构，立法权；adj.立法的，有立法权的

参考例句：

• Congress is the legislative branch of the U.S. government.国会是美国政府的立法部门。
• Today's hearing was just the first step in the legislative process.今天的听证会只是展开立法程序的第一步。