VOA常速英语2008年-Zimbabwe Exiles in Britain Watch Election Campa

By Catherine Drew
London
27 March 2008
 

Exile groups and non-governmental organizations estimate that there are between half a million and a million Zimbabwean's living in Britain. Many fled their home country as political and economic refugees when President Robert Mugabe introduced controversial land reforms in 2000.  The U.N.'s Human Development Index ranks Zimbabwe 151st out of 175 countries, one of the poorest and most deprived.  And some of the expatriates living in Britain have mobilized ahead of the African country's presidential and general elections on March 29. Catherine Drew reports from London on the exile community's expectations.

This vigil is a fixture¹ in central London every Saturday.  For more than five years, Zimbabweans have gathered outside their country's High Commission.  They listen to speeches and hand out leaflets, and keep their spirits up as a community of expatriates.

But most here are not optimistic about Saturday's [March 29] elections back home.   With President Mugabe running for a sixth term, few believe the vote will be free and fair.

"Mugabe is still in control of things from registration² of voters down to the election process and even the announcement of who has won and who has not,” says Ephraim Tapa, who is a co-founder of the vigil. “It is all for him to do, so there is no hope.  There is nothing for us here.”

With the government's restrictions³ on the media and political opposition⁴ in place in Zimbabwe, journalists work here.

Since 2001, they have broadcast on SW Radio Africa live into Zimbabwe from London for two hours every day.

The station has no precise count of listeners, but it reports calls from all over the country and uses multiple frequencies to avoid jamming by the Zimbabwean authorities.

SW Radio Africa's website also receives hits from all over the world.

"The newspapers, the independent newspapers, have been shut down, so I think it plays a very important role, especially in the lead up to the elections where people can get information on what's happening, especially from within the country," said Mandisa Mundawarara, a presenter⁵ on the station.

But most in this small group of journalists doubt Saturday's election will bring change.  They say they have been told all members of SW Radio Africa will be jailed if they return under Mugabe's government.

At the weekly vigil, people here also have a sense they will not be able to return home anytime soon.

Attendee Chipo Chaya says there is much anxiety about the election. "It's a bit pessimistic we don't know what’s going to happen in Zimbabwe, we don't know who's going to win but I believe the people want, they need change.  We all need change in Zimbabwe," said Chaya.

The Zimbabwean High Commission declined to comment.  And outside at the vigil, these expatriates who cannot vote in the upcoming election say they plan to hold their own mock ballot⁶ Saturday, to highlight a marred⁷ ballot at home.

1 fixture   

n.固定设备；预定日期；比赛时间；定期存款

参考例句：

• Lighting fixture must be installed at once.必须立即安装照明设备。
• The cordless kettle may now be a fixture in most kitchens.无绳电热水壶现在可能是多数厨房的固定设备。

2 registration   

n.登记，注册，挂号

参考例句：

• Marriage without registration is not recognized by law.法律不承认未登记的婚姻。
• What's your registration number?你挂的是几号？

3 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

4 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。

5 presenter   

n.（电视、广播的）主持人，赠与者

参考例句：

• Most people think being a television presenter is exciting.很多人认为当电视节目主持人是一件刺激的事情。
• The programme dispensed with its most popular presenter.这个节目最受欢迎的主持人被换掉了。

6 ballot   

n.（不记名）投票，投票总数，投票权；vi.投票

参考例句：

• The members have demanded a ballot.会员们要求投票表决。
• The union said they will ballot members on whether to strike.工会称他们将要求会员投票表决是否罢工。

7 marred   

adj. 被损毁, 污损的

参考例句：

• The game was marred by the behaviour of drunken fans. 喝醉了的球迷行为不轨，把比赛给搅了。
• Bad diction marred the effectiveness of his speech. 措词不当影响了他演说的效果。