Zim feels the heat over run-off
03/05/2008 09:05  - (SA)  

Mugabe to contest run-off Mbeki to probe Zim vote violence Zim final results 'grand theft' Zim results lack credibility - UK Zim finally releases poll results MDC disputes poll results 'Bob will accept run-off result' Mugabe 'must call off his dogs' Teachers die in Zim bloodshed 'Let's do something about Zim' Zim army 'unleashing terror'

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Harare - Zimbabwe came under mounting pressure on Saturday after the long-delayed result of a contentious presidential poll showed Morgan Tsvangirai trouncing Robert Mugabe but falling short of an absolute majority.

As Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) rejected the official result showing their leader winning 47.9% against Mugabe's 43.2%, world capitals called for a credible run-off and a halt to poll violence.

The European Commission spokesperson underscored the need for "free and fair second round that is conducted in a proper manner".

"We are therefore calling for international observers from the moment this process starts," she told AFP.

Canadian Foreign Minister Maxime Bernier called the results of the March 29 presidential vote "contested", and said Tsvangirai had "a clear lead" over Mugabe, in power since 1980 when Zimbabwe gained independence from Britain.

Zimbabwe's electoral commission on Friday said in the absence of an absolute majority by Tsvangirai, there should be a run-off on a date yet to be announced.

Credibility problems

In Washington, a State Department spokesperson said the results had "rather serious credibility problems" and doubted a run-off would be free and fair.

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said Mugabe had "clearly lost", adding: "His campaign of violence and intimidation over the last month must stop immediately."

US-based rights watchdog Human Rights Watch echoed the call.

"Since the elections, the ruling Zanu-PF party, the army and so-called war veterans have conducted a brutal state-sponsored campaign of violence, torture and intimidation against MDC activists and supporters," it said.

"The long delay in announcing the results of the presidential elections and the government's politically motivated arrests of more than 100 presiding election officers around the country raises serious questions about the official tally."

'Mugabe votes inflated, Tsvangirai votes deflated'

The MDC's number two, Tendai Biti, said the electoral commission, whose leaders are appointed by the president, had inflated the number of votes for Mugabe by 47 000 and deflated those for Tsvangirai by 50 000.

"Morgan Tsvangirai is the president of the republic of Zimbabwe to the extent that he won the highest number of votes," he said, adding: "Morgan Tsvangirai has to be declared the president of Zimbabwe."

Under the terms of the Zimbabwean constitution, Mugabe would be declared the automatic winner if Tsvangirai refused to take part in a second round.

A senior Mugabe aide meanwhile accused the commission of deflating the figures for the incumbent but said the octogenarian leader would contest a run-off.

Mugabe's Zanu-PF party is challenging another 52 results from elections in which it lost control of parliament for the first time since 1980.

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