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Zimbabwe stands 'on a precipice' | Zimbabwe stands 'on a precipice' |
(10 minutes later) | |
Zimbabwe is standing on a "precipice" as official results from Saturday's general election start to trickle in, the opposition has said. | Zimbabwe is standing on a "precipice" as official results from Saturday's general election start to trickle in, the opposition has said. |
Leading Movement for Democratic Change official Tendai Biti says party leader Morgan Tsvangirai has won 60% of the vote, against 30% for Robert Mugabe. | Leading Movement for Democratic Change official Tendai Biti says party leader Morgan Tsvangirai has won 60% of the vote, against 30% for Robert Mugabe. |
Official results show both sides have 19 parliamentary seats so far. Mr Biti says the results are being rigged. | Official results show both sides have 19 parliamentary seats so far. Mr Biti says the results are being rigged. |
Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa has lost his seat, east of Harare. | Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa has lost his seat, east of Harare. |
Public Affairs Minister Chen Chimutengwende has also lost his seat in Mazowe, seen as a stronghold for President Mugabe's Zanu-PF party. | Public Affairs Minister Chen Chimutengwende has also lost his seat in Mazowe, seen as a stronghold for President Mugabe's Zanu-PF party. |
Local results have been posted outside most polling stations since Sunday morning. | Local results have been posted outside most polling stations since Sunday morning. |
MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa told the BBC his party had won 99 of the 210 parliamentary seats, against 96 for Zanu-PF and 15 for other opposition parties, based on his party's final figures. | MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa told the BBC his party had won 99 of the 210 parliamentary seats, against 96 for Zanu-PF and 15 for other opposition parties, based on his party's final figures. |
ELECTION RESULTS SO FAR Parliamentary constituencies MDC: 19Zanu-PF: 19Yet to declare: 172 Presidential results None so farWinner needs more than 50% to avoid run-off Source: ZECResults according to MDC: Morgan Tsvangirai, MDC: 60%Robert Mugabe, Zanu-PF: 30%MDC 99 parliamentary seats Zanu-PF 96Other opposition 15 Delays add to fraud fearsZimbabwe votes: At a glanceElection day: In quotes | ELECTION RESULTS SO FAR Parliamentary constituencies MDC: 19Zanu-PF: 19Yet to declare: 172 Presidential results None so farWinner needs more than 50% to avoid run-off Source: ZECResults according to MDC: Morgan Tsvangirai, MDC: 60%Robert Mugabe, Zanu-PF: 30%MDC 99 parliamentary seats Zanu-PF 96Other opposition 15 Delays add to fraud fearsZimbabwe votes: At a glanceElection day: In quotes |
Mr Biti said the electoral commission was planning to announce that Mr Mugabe had won 52% of the vote - just enough to avoid a run-off. The MDC would not accept these results, he said. | Mr Biti said the electoral commission was planning to announce that Mr Mugabe had won 52% of the vote - just enough to avoid a run-off. The MDC would not accept these results, he said. |
Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga denied the polls would be rigged and said the president would accept defeat. | Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga denied the polls would be rigged and said the president would accept defeat. |
"We don't expect to lose... It's going to be a very tight contest and if he loses, you have to accept," he told the BBC. | "We don't expect to lose... It's going to be a very tight contest and if he loses, you have to accept," he told the BBC. |
Mr Matonga also denied rumours that Mr Mugabe had gone to Malaysia or was planning to impose a state of emergency. | Mr Matonga also denied rumours that Mr Mugabe had gone to Malaysia or was planning to impose a state of emergency. |
Riot police have been patrolling the capital, Harare, and other urban areas and residents have been told to stay indoors. | Riot police have been patrolling the capital, Harare, and other urban areas and residents have been told to stay indoors. |
A senior Zanu-PF source has told a BBC contributor that security officials met on Sunday to decide who should tell Mr Mugabe he had lost, with some refusing to take the job. | A senior Zanu-PF source has told a BBC contributor that security officials met on Sunday to decide who should tell Mr Mugabe he had lost, with some refusing to take the job. |
In the southern town of Masvingo, MDC supporters have reportedly stopped celebrating since reports came in that Zanu-PF had won in areas initially believed to have gone to the opposition. | In the southern town of Masvingo, MDC supporters have reportedly stopped celebrating since reports came in that Zanu-PF had won in areas initially believed to have gone to the opposition. |
'Meticulous' | 'Meticulous' |
Presidential, House of Assembly, Senate and local elections were all held on Saturday, and election officials say that this is why results have been slow to come. | Presidential, House of Assembly, Senate and local elections were all held on Saturday, and election officials say that this is why results have been slow to come. |
Some MDC supporters were celebrating on Sunday | |
"It's an absolute necessity that all results be meticulously analysed at this stage," George Chiweshe, the chairman of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, said earlier. | |
But Noel Kututwa, the head of the Zimbabwe Election Support Network, said: "The delay in announcing these results is fuelling speculation that there could be something going on." | But Noel Kututwa, the head of the Zimbabwe Election Support Network, said: "The delay in announcing these results is fuelling speculation that there could be something going on." |
Poll monitors from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) said the elections had been "peaceful and credible". | Poll monitors from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) said the elections had been "peaceful and credible". |
But two SADC members from South Africa refused to sign a generally positive preliminary report of the mission, with one of them calling the polls "deeply flawed". | But two SADC members from South Africa refused to sign a generally positive preliminary report of the mission, with one of them calling the polls "deeply flawed". |
Western observers were banned from the election but a European Union spokesman urged the ZEC to announce the results to "avoid unnecessary speculation". | Western observers were banned from the election but a European Union spokesman urged the ZEC to announce the results to "avoid unnecessary speculation". |
UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband says that after millions of Zimbabweans had voted "their voice must now be heard without delay". | UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband says that after millions of Zimbabweans had voted "their voice must now be heard without delay". |
A new monitoring group, the Independent Results Centre, backs up the MDC's claims of victory, saying Mr Tsvangirai has won 55% of the vote in the presidential race, against 37% for Mr Mugabe and 5% for independent candidate Simba Makoni. | A new monitoring group, the Independent Results Centre, backs up the MDC's claims of victory, saying Mr Tsvangirai has won 55% of the vote in the presidential race, against 37% for Mr Mugabe and 5% for independent candidate Simba Makoni. |
'Coup d'etat' | 'Coup d'etat' |
Mr Chamisa said that MDC polling agents had been chased away from some polling stations on election day, which later recorded huge Zanu-PF victories. | Mr Chamisa said that MDC polling agents had been chased away from some polling stations on election day, which later recorded huge Zanu-PF victories. |
He pointed to the case of Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe constituency east of Harare, where the Zanu-PF candidate received 15,000 votes against 2,000 for the MDC. | He pointed to the case of Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe constituency east of Harare, where the Zanu-PF candidate received 15,000 votes against 2,000 for the MDC. |
Of the seats declared so far, both parties have done well in their traditional strongholds - Zanu-PF in rural areas and the MDC in towns and cities. | Of the seats declared so far, both parties have done well in their traditional strongholds - Zanu-PF in rural areas and the MDC in towns and cities. |
But Zanu-PF has won one seat in Harare, while the MDC has gained six rural seats, including that of Mr Chinamasa. | But Zanu-PF has won one seat in Harare, while the MDC has gained six rural seats, including that of Mr Chinamasa. |
HAVE YOUR SAYThis delay is getting people agitated, we are all wondering what is going onBlessing, HarareSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYThis delay is getting people agitated, we are all wondering what is going onBlessing, HarareSend us your comments |
The BBC's Grant Ferrett in Johannesburg says Mr Chinamasa has been an energetic and loyal supporter of Mr Mugabe, pushing through his land redistribution progamme in defiance of court rulings. | The BBC's Grant Ferrett in Johannesburg says Mr Chinamasa has been an energetic and loyal supporter of Mr Mugabe, pushing through his land redistribution progamme in defiance of court rulings. |
Government spokesman George Charamba warned the MDC against claiming victory before official results are announced. | Government spokesman George Charamba warned the MDC against claiming victory before official results are announced. |
"It is called a coup d'etat and we all know how coups are handled." | "It is called a coup d'etat and we all know how coups are handled." |
After voting in Harare, Mr Mugabe, 84, who has been in power since 1980, said: "We don't rig elections. I cannot sleep with my conscience if I have rigged." | After voting in Harare, Mr Mugabe, 84, who has been in power since 1980, said: "We don't rig elections. I cannot sleep with my conscience if I have rigged." |
The MDC says it is fighting to save Zimbabwe's economy. | The MDC says it is fighting to save Zimbabwe's economy. |
The country has the world's highest inflation rate, at more than 100,000%, and just one adult in five is believed to have a regular job. | The country has the world's highest inflation rate, at more than 100,000%, and just one adult in five is believed to have a regular job. |
Are you in Zimbabwe? Did you vote in Saturday's election? What happened in your constituency? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below or by text on +44 7786 20 50 85 - and let us know if you do not want your full name to be published. | Are you in Zimbabwe? Did you vote in Saturday's election? What happened in your constituency? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below or by text on +44 7786 20 50 85 - and let us know if you do not want your full name to be published. |