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Zimbabwe run-off 'not necessary' 'No need' for new Zimbabwe poll
(about 1 hour later)
Zimbabwe's main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has said he is the clear winner of the presidential poll and there is no need for a run-off. Zimbabwe's main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has claimed victory in the presidential election and said a second round run-off is unnecessary.
He also accused President Robert Mugabe, who has held power since 1980, of preparing to go to war against the country's people. He also accused President Robert Mugabe, who has held power since 1980, of preparing to go use violence against his people to stay in office.
Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party has backed him to contest any run-off poll, amid growing fears of political violence. Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party has backed him to contest any run-off poll.
Official results of last Saturday's election have still not been announced. The official results of last Saturday's presidential election have still not been announced.
Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has said it will launch a new bid in the High Court on Sunday for the results to be published. Armed police prevented its lawyers from entering the court on Saturday. Mr Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has launched a legal bid to force the Zimbabwe Election Commission to publish the results.
The MDC says Mr Tsvangirai took 50.3% of the presidential voteOne of the legal team, Alec Muchadehama, said the police had threatened to shoot them. Zanu-PF is preparing a war against the people of Zimbabwe Morgan TsvangiraiMDC leader class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7331838.stm">Speculation grips Harare class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4532&edition=1">Send us your comments
It says Mr Tsvangirai has already cleared the 50% of the vote threshold needed to avoid a run-off.
Saturday saw the High Court postpone a hearing on the MDC case until Sunday after the commission asked for more time to prepare its response. Armed police initially prevented MDC lawyers from entering the court before allowing them in.
Guarantee of safety
In what was his first public declaration of victory, Mr Tsvangirai told reporters: "It is unfair... for President Mugabe to even hint at a run-off.
"Violence will be the new weapon to reverse the people's will. We won this election without the need for a run-off...
The MDC says Mr Tsvangirai took 50.3% of the presidential vote"Zanu-PF is preparing a war against the people of Zimbabwe."
He urged President Mugabe to begin talks about the handling of a "peaceful, orderly and democratic transition".
He added: "In making this call, I believe it is in the interests of the people and the future of this country not to create conditions of anxiety and instability.
"I want to say to President Robert Mugabe: 'Please rest your mind, the new Zimbabwe guarantees your safety.'"
He derided the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission for its failure to declare the outcome.
"This is a totally unacceptable situation in delaying the release of the results."
Zimbabwe's Deputy Information Minister, Bright Matonga, has accused the MDC of spreading false and malicious reports to get international sympathy.Zimbabwe's Deputy Information Minister, Bright Matonga, has accused the MDC of spreading false and malicious reports to get international sympathy.
He said police had probably been trying to contain the party's rowdy supporters. Speaking during a visit to the UK, South African President Thabo Mbeki said that now was not the time to interfere, and the international community should wait to find out the outcome of the election.
The MDC has also called for international help to prevent violence if a second round is held. "I think the situation for now is manageable," he told reporters.
But speaking in the UK, South African President Thabo Mbeki said that now was not the time to interfere, and the international community should wait to find out the outcome of the election. Sanctions
Divided party Zanu-PF leaders backed Mr Mugabe's participation in a possible run-off on Friday. There had been speculation he would stand aside rather than face a second poll.
Before Zanu-PF leaders backed Mr Mugabe's participation in a possible run-off, there had been speculation he would stand aside rather than face a second poll. In a separate development, Zanu-PF has said it will call for recounts for 16 seats in the parliamentary elections.
We will be forced to defend our sovereignty Jabulani SibandaZimbabwe War Veterans' Association class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7331838.stm">Speculation grips Harare class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4532&edition=1">Send us your comments ELECTION RESULTS SO FAR Presidential results: None so farWinner needs more than 50% to avoid run-off Partial Senate results: Zanu-PF: 5MDC: 550 undeclared Source: ZEC
Correspondents say there are fears a second round - which would be expected to take place within three weeks - could lead to a resurgence of the violence and intimidation that has been a characteristic of past elections in Zimbabwe.
Announcing the legal challenge, another MDC spokesman, Nelson Chamisa, said the delay in reporting the result was unjustified.
"We're fighting the anxiety, disappointment, speculation and rumours as a result of this delay," he said.
Mr Chamisa said the ruling party would attempt to use a run-off as a way to exact revenge, and called for immediate international help.
"For Mugabe, a run-off is a strategy for retribution," he said.
"He was beaten at the referendum in 2000 and we all know the violence which followed.
"This is what we want to avoid, rather than have the international community intervene after there has been bloodshed." In a separate development, Zanu-PF has said it will call for recounts for 16 seats in the parliamentary elections.
If successfully contested, these would be enough for the party to regain the majority it lost for the first time since 1980.If successfully contested, these would be enough for the party to regain the majority it lost for the first time since 1980.
The MDC says Mr Tsvangirai took 50.3% of the presidential vote, slightly more than the 50% needed to avoid a run-off.The MDC says Mr Tsvangirai took 50.3% of the presidential vote, slightly more than the 50% needed to avoid a run-off.
An independent projection says Mr Tsvangirai gained 49%, just below the threshold, with Mr Mugabe on 42%.An independent projection says Mr Tsvangirai gained 49%, just below the threshold, with Mr Mugabe on 42%.
'Provocation'
On Friday, hundreds of Zanu-PF supporters - some of them veterans from the war against white rule that led to independence - marched through the capital, Harare.
ELECTION RESULTS SO FAR Presidential results: None so farWinner needs more than 50% to avoid run-off Senate results: Zanu-PF: 5MDC: 5 Source: ZEC Voters predict resultsIs Mugabe losing his grip?
Jabulani Sibanda, head of the Zimbabwe War Veterans' Association, which has been associated with past election violence, said Zanu-PF had lost the elections because "people were pushed by hunger and illegal sanctions".
"Under current circumstances the spirit of our people is being provoked," he said.
"We will be forced to defend our sovereignty."
Western countries imposed sanctions following allegations that Mr Mugabe rigged the polls in 2002.Western countries imposed sanctions following allegations that Mr Mugabe rigged the polls in 2002.
The sanctions are targeted at Mr Mugabe and his close associates - they are subject to a travel ban and an assets freeze in the European Union and the US.The sanctions are targeted at Mr Mugabe and his close associates - they are subject to a travel ban and an assets freeze in the European Union and the US.
Mr Mugabe, 84, came to power 28 years ago at independence on a wave of optimism.Mr Mugabe, 84, came to power 28 years ago at independence on a wave of optimism.
But in recent years Zimbabwe has been plagued by the world's highest inflation, as well as acute food and fuel shortages, which correspondents say have driven many voters to back the opposition.But in recent years Zimbabwe has been plagued by the world's highest inflation, as well as acute food and fuel shortages, which correspondents say have driven many voters to back the opposition.
The ruling party remains divided, the BBC's Peter Biles says, with many who would still like to see a change of leadership, believing that under Mr Mugabe, Zimbabwe has no future.The ruling party remains divided, the BBC's Peter Biles says, with many who would still like to see a change of leadership, believing that under Mr Mugabe, Zimbabwe has no future.
So far, 10 of the 60 Senate results have been officially announced, with each party taking five seats.So far, 10 of the 60 Senate results have been officially announced, with each party taking five seats.
In the lower house of parliament, the MDC took 99 seats, while Zanu-PF won 97.In the lower house of parliament, the MDC took 99 seats, while Zanu-PF won 97.
A smaller MDC faction, which backed former Mugabe loyalist Simba Makoni in the presidential election, won 10 seats, leaving them with a potentially influential role.A smaller MDC faction, which backed former Mugabe loyalist Simba Makoni in the presidential election, won 10 seats, leaving them with a potentially influential role.
However, Zanu-PF gained 46% of the vote in the parliamentary race, against 43% for the MDC, which supporters of Mr Mugabe say gives him hope of victory in a run-off.
Are you in Zimbabwe? How concerned are you about the political uncertainty? What is happening where you are? Send us your comments using the form belowAre you in Zimbabwe? How concerned are you about the political uncertainty? What is happening where you are? Send us your comments using the form below
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