Zim run-off delayed for 90 days
2008-05-14 19:17
Special Report
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe accused his political rivals of trying to use constitutional reforms to get rid of him, but warned that his Zanu-PF party would reject any changes threatening its future.
A dusty road leads to the village of Wedza, where veterans of Zimbabwe's liberation war eke out a meagre living on their farm cooperative, which after a promising start now brings only despair.
Cris Chinaka & Caroline Drees
Harare - Zimbabwe's run-off presidential election has been delayed and will now be held within 90 days of May 2, when official results of the disputed vote were released, Zimbabwe's government announced on Wednesday.
Results from the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission of the disputed March 29 election showed opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai beat veteran President Mugabe in the presidential poll, but not by enough votes to avoid a run-off.
In a parliamentary election held on the same day, the ruling Zanu-PF party lost its majority to the opposition for the first time since independence from Britain in 1980.
In a special government notices gazette published on Wednesday, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa said: "Not withstanding Section 110 of the Electoral Act, the period within which a second election for the office of the president is hereby extended from 21 days to 90 days from the date of announcement of results of the first poll."
Movement for Democratic Change spokesperson Nelson Chamisa told Reuters: "To us this is illegal and unfair. It is part of a programme to give Mugabe and Zanu-PF time to torment and continue a campaign of violence on the MDC."
- Reuters