Maravi

Mugabe, Tsvangirai likely to face re-run

Mugabe, Tsvangirai likely to face re-run
By Kingsley Kaswende and George Chellah in Harare
Thursday April 03, 2008 [04:00]

A run-off between President Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai is in sight following the latest pattern of results, which indicate that the two parties will not register the magical 51 per cent needed for a straight win. The MDC has declared that it is ready to contest in the run-off.

Tsvangirai declared himself a winner on Tuesday night although he said he would wait for the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to endorse his declaration.

No official results for the presidential election have been released so far but parliamentary results received still continue to exhibit a tight contest between ZANU-PF and MDC.

Unofficial presidential results indicate that Tsvangirai had won by between 46 and 49 per cent while Mugabe was second with between 41 and 43 per cent. Independent candidate Simba Makoni was third with between eight and 13 per cent while the fourth candidate, Langtone Towungana has negligible votes.

The MDC in its unofficial results is predicting that Morgan has won by 50.3 per cent, President Mugabe by 43.8 per cent and Simba Makoni by seven per cent.
Addressing journalists yesterday, MDC secretary general Tendai Biti said the opposition has won the election and there was no need for a run-off.

"It appears the state-media is preparing the members of the public for a run-off. We maintain that we have won these elections without a run-off. We wait for ZEC to confirm what the state-media is preparing Zimbabweans for," Biti said. "If that's the case this party will contest in that run-off. It's unlikely that the people's will, will be reversed in that run-off. If anything there will be embarrassing margins in that run-off. A run-off serves no purpose other than to embarrass certain elderly quarters of this country."

As for the parliamentary seats, ZANU-PF and MDC had 92 and 91 seats, respectively, while the other MDC faction led by Prof Arthur Mutambara had five, of the 188 seats counted so far. A total of 210 seats are being contested.

This meant that ZANU-PF was trailing the opposition's overall seat count. The combined opposition seats were 97 while ZANU PF had 91 seats.

Speaking for the first time after the Saturday election, Tsvangirai said he believed that he had garnered more than 51 per cent of votes required to make him an outright winner.

"All I know is that we are above the constitutional (51 per cent) requirement (to make us straight winners) but of course ZEC has to announce officially. We have absolutely no doubt that we have won but we have to wait," he said at a press briefing on Tuesday evening.
For most part of Tuesday, rumour has been making rounds that ZANU-PF and MDC leaders had met to try and strike a deal regarding the transition of power, as Mugabe had allegedly accepted defeat.

Headlines were awash on international news channels that the end had come for Mugabe, but Tsvangirai dismissed the rumour.
"There is no discussion (between MDC and ZANU-PF) This is speculation. Let ZEC announce the result then we can discuss the circumstances that will affect the people," he said.

"There is no way MDC can enter into a deal before ZEC announced anything. We know what we've won in terms of presidential and parliamentary but we are waiting for ZEC to endorse that. Any speculation about deals is not there because the (official) results have not been announced."

Tsvangirai said Zimbabwe was currently on a cliff and people were waiting for the results with anxiety and apprehension.
He, however, said he was prepared to wait longer so long as the result was a true reflection of the vote.

Tsvangirai said after March 29, Zimbabwe would never be the same again.
"I would like to thank the millions who invested in the change they can trust. The vote on Saturday was a vote for change. Our people therefore cannot wait for the execution of that mandate. But I know that in this process there is a temptation to cut corners. We'll exercise restraint and we've refused to resort to violence," Tsvangirai said.

ZEC chief elections officer Lovemore Sekeramayi on Tuesday night announced that the commission was receiving the much-needed results of the presidential election from the country's ten provinces.

"The two parties had agreed that the verification and collation of the results would commence in the presence of all the candidates or their chief election agents once all results have been received from the provinces," Sekeramayi said. "Note that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has been working with the national chief election agents who have also been present at the national collation centre and are in full agreement with this arrangement."

He pleaded with the nation to remain patient as the commission goes through the meticulous verification process.
Sekeramayi also commended the electorate for showing political maturity and tolerance before, during and after the harmonised elections.

Labels: ELECTIONS, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, MUGABE

posted by MrK @ 6:34 AM