Phone networks jammed as Zimbabweans search for election information

Fixed and mobile phone lines have been jammed as Zimbabweans try to find out the outcome of their elections.

Phone services already on the verge of collapse in Zimbabwe's economic meltdown were paralyzed as voters angered by the slow release of official results from Saturday's polling called each other for news, said Ephraim Choto, a Harare accountant.

"This has been the cell phone and text message election," he said.

As a result, repeated attempts to connect are cut off with beeps, "network busy" signals or just dead silence.

"It's frustrating not to be able to communicate and you just throw up your hands in despair," Choto said.

He said relatives across the country who saw results posted outside polling stations called or sent him cell phone text messages to compare notes.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change said it had thousands of polling agents and supporters texting in results. MDC polling agents were also equipped with camera phones or digital cameras to photograph result notices.

In downtown Harare on Wednesday, people crowded around parked cars with the radio on to hear the latest official results announced on state radio.

"I can't see why it's taking so long. Last time we had all the results in a day or two. It stinks," said a women who gave her name only as Ziyambi.

Others clamoring around a car radio said the delays were a deliberate ploy to portray a close race between the opposition and President Robert Mugabe's party.

"It's been crazy. My phone hasn't stopped with friends calling in from all over the country," said businessman Thomas Bute, walking past the blaring car radio.

Well-to-do Zimbabweans with computers relied on specialized Web sites for tallies compiled by independent monitors and the main opposition party.

Only about 30,000 Zimbabweans own satellite televisions receivers. One Harare family asked a relative in Britain to listen to world broadcasts on Zimbabwe that they couldn't tune in to and text results given by international media.

"My uncle got through from London yesterday and held his phone to the radio news there for us to listen to," said Peter Jampies, a Harare car mechanic.

Bute, the businessman, said Zimbabweans "have been starved of proper news," fueling rumors in a nation dominated by the strictly controlled state media.