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Poll results 'public knowledge'
11/04/2008 14:15 - (SA)
Harare - Zimbabwe's Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga on Friday claimed that results of the country's presidential election, still being withheld after 13 days, were "public knowledge".
Speaking to South African radio Matonga said President Robert Mugabe's "Zanu-PF and the (opposition) MDC (Movement for Democratic Change of Morgan Tsvangirai) both know there is no clear winner."
While Zanu-PF was still waiting for the official confirmation, the outcome had been clear since results were posted outside polling stations 12 days ago and pointed to the need for a runoff vote, he said.
His statement was likely to add to the clamour for the state- controlled Zimbabwe Electoral Commission to release the results.
Zanu-PF, MDC discussed results
It also raised questions over why, if Zanu-PF accepted the results, it was demanding a recount and accusing the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission of rigging in Tsvangirai's favour.
Matonga said Zanu-PF and the MDC had discussed the results before last week's Zanu-PF politburo meeting, which endorsed Mugabe's bid for a "fight to the last" against Tsvangirai in a likely runoff.
"We sat down with them to mark a way forward," Matonga said, claiming that the MDC had demanded that Tsvangirai be made deputy president and that Zanu-PF had rejected the idea.
The MDC had denied they sought the deputy presidency and rejected the need for a runoff, claiming Tsvangirai won outright and that Mugabe would use a runoff to try to pacify the population into voting for him.
"Things are very peaceful. There is no violence - during the election and after the election," Matonga said, despite several reports of attacks on white farmers and opposition supporters in recent days.
Matonga also denied reports that the national election centre had been dismantled.
"They (the MDC) want to provoke an uprising," but the absence of pro-MDC street protests showed they were unsuccessful, Matonga said.
Sapa-dpa
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