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MDC win 'a greatest curse'
25/03/2008 12:48 - (SA)
Harare - President Robert Mugabe says an opposition win in Saturday's tightly-contested polls would be "the greatest curse" for Zimbabwe.
Mugabe, who was battling for his political survival, called on opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party supporters to "come home" to his ruling Zanu-PF, the official Herald daily reported on Tuesday.
Speaking at a rally on Monday in Hwange Colliery Stadium, in Matabeleland North province, the 84-year-old leader admitted the MDC would win some seats in the parliamentary elections, which were being held at the same time as presidential polls.
"Yes, they may win some seats, but they cannot win the majority of seats in Zimbabwe. Impossible!" he declared. "That's the greatest curse," he added.
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai was leading Mugabe by eight points in a recent opinion poll, with 28.3% of voters polled against 20.3 for the veteran leader.
A third contender, former finance minister Simba Makoni, had nearly 8.6% of the vote, the poll said. The MDC leader had been running his campaign under the theme "Morgan is more" and had emphasised family- and people-centred strategies the party would implement if elected into power.
Mugabe's team recently also tried to emphasise the leaders family credentials, running full-page pictures of a youthful Mugabe leaving his family to fight for Zimbabwe's independence.
The advert said he spent 11 years in prison away from his family during the country's struggle for independence from white minority rule.
Sapa-dpa
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