Unofficial results being announced by the media show Mr. Sall with a huge lead over Mr. Wade. Mr. Sall’s supporters are celebrating in the streets of Dakar.Official provisional results are still days away.
Tens of thousands of Senegalese voted in the tightly contested presidential run-off election between its 85-year-old president and the former prime minister, who had the backing of a dozen other opposition leaders.
Wade had been seeking a highly controversial third term in office, which many feared would derail one of the continent’s leading democracies.
Senegal’s constitution limits the president to two terms, and Mr. Wade’s bid for a third mandate sparked deadly riots.
Supporters cheered for the incumbent in a scene that was very different from the initial poll on February 25, when bystanders booed Mr. Wade
Former prime minister Sall has promised to reform the government and to lower basic food costs.
“What we see until now is a calm and orderly election day where the polling stations opened at eight o’clock, where people are standing in line to vote in an orderly and calm way, dignified. I don’t see much difficulty until now, although there is clearly high political tension because there is something at stake and that is normal.”
Zimbabweans really have to learn a small lesson from the Senegalese as they are also approaching the elections time.
“After 32 years in power, he knows nothing else,” Biti said.
“I know the joy of walking into a supermarket, watching the Black Rhinos or going to church without anyone raising a furore. He does not know there is a beautiful life outside politics. He would never want to retire. I think he will never step down.”
Biti also launched a spirited defence of his MDC-T party’s record in government.
Human rights groups have expressed concern that Mugabe’s party plans to use the proceeds from diamond mines to fund violence and intimidation in upcoming elections – accusations denied by Zanu PF.
Biti said the country urgently needed to put in place structures – such as a state diamond exploration company – to ensure that “those diamonds sweat for us and not for thieves and middlemen”.
Under the deal that followed the disputed elections in 2008, Zimbabwe is expected to move towards fair elections.
But the process of writing a new constitution has become mired in infighting. President Mugabe has suggested he will call elections with or without a new constitution.