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(TALKZIMBABWE) President Mugabe wins run-off, sworn in

President Mugabe wins run-off, sworn in
Floyd Nkomo
Sun, 29 Jun 2008 17:13:00 +0000

President Robert Mugabe, right, takes the oath administered by Chief Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku during his inauguration at State House in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Sunday March 16, 2002 — AP/PTI photo.

THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has released the final official results of the run-off presidential election showing President Robert Mugabe winning by 85.51% of the total vote cast securing a sixth 5-year term. Morgan Tsvangirai trailed behind with 9.3 percent of the total vote. He was sworn in shortly after 16:15PM GMT by Zimbabwe’s Chief Justice, Godfrey Chidyausiku, at State House.

Chief elections officer Lovemore Sekeramayi said President Mugabe had won a total of 2,150,269 votes against 233,000 for opposition Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who boycotted the election but whose name still appeared on ballot papers.

Tsvangirai, who had been expected to pit against ruling Zanu PF candidate and incumbent President Mugabe in the run-off election, withdrew last Sunday, citing various reasons, including increasing political violence and intimidation against the opposition MDC-T.

But the ZEC said the withdrawal was a ‘nullity’ with no legal consequence because it was filed too late.

According to Zimbabwe Television (ZTV) the results released for all of Zimbabwe's 10 provinces gave President Mugabe an "unassailable lead".

The ZEC said 43 per cent of eligible voters cast their ballot and 131 481 ballot papers had been spoilt.

President Mugabe obtained more votes in the opposition stronghold of urban Bulawayo — Zimbabwe's second main city — with official results showing President Mugabe getting 21,127 votes and opposition candidate Morgan Tsvangirai getting 13,291.

Observers from many countries and organizations, including the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) monitored the election. Sadc alone had more than 400 election observers in the country.

OFFICIAL RESULTS

PROVINCE CANDIDATE VOTES

Bulawayo
President Robert Mugabe 21127
Morgan Tsvangirai 13291
Spoilt Votes 9166

Harare
President Robert Mugabe 156478
Morgan Tsvangirai 48307
Spoilt Votes 36446

Manicaland
President Robert Mugabe 323284
Morgan Tsvangirai 29561
Spoilt Votes 36446

Masvingo
President Robert Mugabe 321404
Morgan Tsvangirai 12804
Spoilt Votes 9740

Mashonaland West
President Robert Mugabe 256699
Morgan Tsvangirai 18459
Spoilt Votes 10821

Matabeleland North
President Robert Mugabe 84185
Morgan Tsvangirai 40099
Spoilt Votes 9907

Matabeleland South
President Robert Mugabe 92654
Morgan Tsvangirai 21687
Spoilt Votes 7353

Midlands
President Robert Mugabe 302407
Morgan Tsvangirai 33555
Spoilt Votes 19438

Mashonaland East
President Robert Mugabe 315119
Morgan Tsvangirai 11171
Spoilt Votes 7675

Mashonaland Central
President Robert Mugabe 276902
Morgan Tsvangirai 4066
Spoilt Votes 3409

TOTAL VOTES
President Robert Mugabe 2 150 269
Morgan Tsvangirai 233 000
Spoilt Votes 131 481

PERCENTAGE TURNOUT 42%

Labels: ELECTIONS, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 6:19 PM