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MDC plotted to rig poll - TV
12/04/2008 22:11 - (SA)
Harare - Zimbabwe's state television reported on Saturday that it had unearthed a secret document written by the opposition detailing plans to rig the March 29 elections.
The document, allegedly written by Tendai Biti - second only in the Movement of Democratic Change (MDC) to opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai - "had clear details on how to rig the elections", the report said.
The document stated that a number of teachers employed by the electoral commission as election officials had "agreed to overstate the vote" for a payment, Zimbabwe Television reported.
The strategy was meant to "ensure they got a landslide victory to take over the country and implement a number of changes meant to please their international friends who sponsored the MDC campaign", the report said. Out of the country
At the time the allegations were reported Biti, the MDC secretary general, was out of the country with Tsvangirai attending a summit of regional leaders discussing Zimbabwe's post-election crisis.
A fortnight after Zimbabwe's presidential election there has still been no announcement of the result. The ruling Zanu-PF party is contesting enough seats to overturn a slim opposition victory in the simultaneous parliamentary elections.
Zimbabwe Television is a mouthpiece for President Robert Mugabe and Zanu-PF.
Zanu-PF-engineered propaganda aimed at justifying the delay in the publication of results and the ruling party's push for another round of voting. 'Zanu-PF generated' "The document has nothing to do with the MDC, it is a Zanu-PF generated document.
"These are old and tired Zanu-PF antics. It is very clear they want to justify the delay in the release of election results," said Chamisa.
"This election was not run by the MDC, but by the Zanu-PF government.
Tsvangirai has claimed victory in the presidential race, but Mugabe's party says no outright winner emerged from the poll and the election has to go to a run-off.
At least 15 Zimbabwe Electoral Commission officials have been arrested in recent days for alleged fraud.
- AFP
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