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Mugabe party demands poll recount Mugabe party questions vote count
(about 7 hours later)
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe's party has asked electoral officials to delay the results of the presidential poll and to recount votes, reports say. President Robert Mugabe's party has asked Zimbabwe's electoral officials to delay presidential poll results to check "errors and miscalculations".
State media said the governing Zanu-PF party requested a recount because there had been "errors and miscalculations". The opposition Movement for Democratic Change said the move was illegal - a recount is possible only after the result has been published.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change said the move was illegal. The High Court has begun hearing their request to publish the outcome.
The MDC also denied it had proposed a unity government. A minister had earlier said Zanu-PF had rejected an opposition call for a coalition. The MDC believes its leader Morgan Tsvangirai won outright in the vote held eight days ago.
The opposition party has also denied it had proposed a unity government. A minister had earlier said Zanu-PF had rejected an opposition call for a coalition.
On Saturday, it accused President Mugabe of "preparing a war".On Saturday, it accused President Mugabe of "preparing a war".
MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai warned that "militants are being rehabilitated" and troops deployed ahead of a possible second round run-off in the presidential poll, which he insists he won. Mr Tsvangirai warned that "militants are being rehabilitated" and troops deployed ahead of a possible second round run-off in the presidential poll, which he insists he won.
Meanwhile, the High Court is due to hear an MDC petition demanding that the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) declare a winner.
'Anomalies''Anomalies'
In its article on its website, the state-run Sunday Mail newspaper said Zanu-PF had written to the ZEC asking it to review the counting of votes. The letter said anomalies had been detected in a number of constituencies, the paper reported. Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party has cited what it claims are anomalies in the presidential vote despite the fact the electoral commission has still to release the result.
There can be no doubt that the entire results of the presidential election in Mberengwa's four constituencies are grossly irregular and cannot stand up to scrutiny Zanu-PF letter to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) Speculation grips HarareBrown and Mbeki in Zimbabwe talksSend us your commentsThere can be no doubt that the entire results of the presidential election in Mberengwa's four constituencies are grossly irregular and cannot stand up to scrutiny Zanu-PF letter to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) Speculation grips HarareBrown and Mbeki in Zimbabwe talksSend us your comments
"Consequent to the anomalies, the party has also requested that the commission defer the announcement of the presidential election result," it added. Information Minister Bright Matonga told the BBC the anomalies were with the collation of the results - there was a discrepancy between the voting results put outside polling stations and the form sent to the central election commission.
MDC Secretary-General Tendai Biti said the ruling party had no right to ask for a recount. It was not clear if this meant the whole vote had to be counted again.
The minister insisted the request did not amount to a recount - which has been dismissed as illegal by MDC Secretary-General Tendai Biti.
"The [Electoral] Act says that you ask for a recount within 48 hours of the counting," he said."The [Electoral] Act says that you ask for a recount within 48 hours of the counting," he said.
"Counting takes place at polling stations so it's within 48 hours of that.""Counting takes place at polling stations so it's within 48 hours of that."
According to papers submitted to the ZEC by Zanu-PF, the number of votes for Mr Mugabe recorded at a number of polling stations were reduced before being sent on to electoral officials.According to papers submitted to the ZEC by Zanu-PF, the number of votes for Mr Mugabe recorded at a number of polling stations were reduced before being sent on to electoral officials.
Some ZEC officials working in the Midlands constituencies of Mberengwa East, West, North and South had since been arrested, the Sunday Mail said. Some ZEC officials working in the Midlands constituencies of Mberengwa East, West, North and South had since been arrested, the state-run Sunday Mail newspaper said.
"As will soon become apparent, the constituency elections officer and his team committed errors of miscounting that are so glaring as to prejudice not just our clients' candidate but also his co-contestants," Zanu-PF's letter said, according to the Sunday Mail."As will soon become apparent, the constituency elections officer and his team committed errors of miscounting that are so glaring as to prejudice not just our clients' candidate but also his co-contestants," Zanu-PF's letter said, according to the Sunday Mail.
"There can be no doubt that the entire results of the presidential election in Mberengwa's four constituencies are grossly irregular and cannot stand up to scrutiny," it added."There can be no doubt that the entire results of the presidential election in Mberengwa's four constituencies are grossly irregular and cannot stand up to scrutiny," it added.
In a separate article, the Sunday Mail quoted Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa as saying the Zanu-PF had rejected an offer from Mr Tsvangirai to form a national unity government, but Mr Biti denied that an offer had been made.In a separate article, the Sunday Mail quoted Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa as saying the Zanu-PF had rejected an offer from Mr Tsvangirai to form a national unity government, but Mr Biti denied that an offer had been made.
Court challengeCourt challenge
The Zanu-PF complaint came hours after the ZEC declared the final results of last week's Senate election. It said Mr Mugabe's party had won 30 seats, with the combined opposition taking the same number.The Zanu-PF complaint came hours after the ZEC declared the final results of last week's Senate election. It said Mr Mugabe's party had won 30 seats, with the combined opposition taking the same number.
The MDC says Mr Tsvangirai took 50.3% of the presidential vote In the lower house, opposition parties took 109 seats, while Zanu-PF won just 97 - the first time it has failed to win a majority since independence from the UK in 1980.The MDC says Mr Tsvangirai took 50.3% of the presidential vote In the lower house, opposition parties took 109 seats, while Zanu-PF won just 97 - the first time it has failed to win a majority since independence from the UK in 1980.
Earlier on Saturday, the High Court postponed a hearing on a case bought by the opposition MDC that demanded the ZEC publish the presidential election results. The case is now due to be heard at 1200 on Sunday (1000 GMT).
On Saturday Mr Tsvangirai claimed victory for the first time since the vote, saying figures posted outside polling stations confirmed he had reached the required threshold of more than 50% of the vote to win outright - making a run-off unnecessary.On Saturday Mr Tsvangirai claimed victory for the first time since the vote, saying figures posted outside polling stations confirmed he had reached the required threshold of more than 50% of the vote to win outright - making a run-off unnecessary.
He also claimed that the country's central bank was printing money "for the finance of violence", and called for dialogue on a peaceful transition.He also claimed that the country's central bank was printing money "for the finance of violence", and called for dialogue on a peaceful transition.
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.
/>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 below
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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 below
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