Another blow for MDC
2008-04-14 16:01
Special Report
A classical music presenter for the BBC has been arrested and is in custody in Zimbabwe.
Harare - Zimbabwe's High Court on Monday
refused to order the immediate release of delayed results from a
March 29 presidential election, in a major blow to the
opposition MDC.
Rejecting a Movement for Democratic Change application to
force the electoral commission to release the result, Judge
Tendai Uchena said: "I dismiss the case with costs."
The MDC claims its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, defeated
President Robert Mugabe in the vote, ending his 28-year rule.
The MDC went to the High Court after a long delay in issuing
the result by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC).
Judge Uchena did not explain his judgement, but said the
court would make it available by Tuesday.
The ZEC opposed the MDC's application and says it is still
counting and verifying the votes.
Disappointed
The opposition says Mugabe is holding back the presidential
result to allow him time to prepare a violent response to his
biggest electoral setback, when the ruling Zanu-PF lost
control of Parliament in a parallel vote on March 29.
MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa told Reuters: "Naturally we are
very disappointed, because I think we have a very strong case.
We
are going to decide the way forward after meeting our lawyers,
but in our view the release of those results is very, very
urgent."
MDC lawyers said they would decide whether to appeal after
studying the High Court judgement. The opposition has called an
indefinite general strike for Tuesday to protest against the
delay.
Southern African leaders said after a summit in Lusaka at
the weekend that the election result should be released
"expeditiously".
Run-off
Further delays are expected because of legal manoeuvres and
a recount of 23 constituencies ordered by the ZEC for next
Saturday. The MDC is also challenging that decision in court.
Zanu-PF says neither Tsvangirai nor Mugabe won the necessary
absolute majority in the presidential vote and a run-off will be
necessary.
The delays have stoked tension in the southern African
nation and brought a chorus of Western condemnation.
Both MDC and international human rights organisations say
Mugabe has unleashed militias in a campaign of violence to
intimidate opposition supporters ahead of a run-off.
Militia attacks
The MDC says hundreds of villagers have been forced out of
their homes by militia attacks and at least 50 needed medical
treatment.
The ZEC's recounts could overturn the MDC's victory in the
Parliamentary vote - Mugabe's first defeat since taking power
after independence from Britain in 1980.
MDC lawyer Selby Hwacha accused the ZEC of calling the
recount to help Zanu-PF rig the poll.
In what the opposition says is a propaganda campaign, state
media on Monday published a document alleged to have been
written by MDC Secretary-General Tendai Biti containing the
party's plans to bribe polling officials to inflate MDC votes.
"This is a dirty campaign, a sign of desperation, publishing
false documents which they have authored themselves," Chamisa said.
Fears of widespread violence
Tsvangirai, who says he is a target of security forces, has
said widespread violence could erupt unless African states
intervene.
The summit of SADC (Southern African Development Community)
in Lusaka at the weekend urged Mugabe to ensure any run-off
would be held "in a secure environment".
The former guerrilla commander did not attend.
Zimbabwe's neighbours, particularly regional power South
Africa, have been flooded with millions of economic refugees,
causing outbursts of xenophobic violence.
- Reuters