Zanu-PF 'geared for run-off'

2008-05-10 14:27

Harare - Zimbabwe's ruling party hopes a second-round run-off between veteran President Robert Mugabe and challenger Morgan Tsvangirai will take place "as soon as possible", the country's justice minister said on Saturday.

"As for us in Zanu-PF, we are geared for the run-off. We want it as soon as possible and get on with normal business," Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa told AFP.

Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai said on Saturday he would contest a presidential run-off poll in the violence-wracked country, but called for it to take place on May 23 in accordance with the law.

Results from the first round were delayed by five weeks and no date has been given for the second-round runoff despite the legal requirement for it to take place within 21 days of the first-round results being announced.

First-round results were published on May 2 but electoral officials have hinted that a second round could take up to a year to organise.

Tsvangirai had previously refused to say whether he would take part in a run-off - even though failure to do so would have handed a victory to Mugabe - and also claimed outright majority in the first round.

"They indicate that they are turning right and then turn left, they said they won and they will not participate in a run-off now they say they will participate in the runoff," Chinamasa added.

He also implied Tsvangirai was only taking part because he had been ordered to do so by former colonial power Britain.

"They are participating because their master has ordered them to do so. We can almost predict that if Tsvangirai loses he is going to condemn the whole process," he said.

- AFP