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Zimbabwe election was 'huge farce' - Morgan Tsvangirai Zimbabwe election was 'huge farce' - Morgan Tsvangirai
(about 1 hour later)
Zimbabwe's presidential election was a "huge farce", PM Morgan Tsvangirai has said, alleging vote-rigging by rival President Robert Mugabe's camp.Zimbabwe's presidential election was a "huge farce", PM Morgan Tsvangirai has said, alleging vote-rigging by rival President Robert Mugabe's camp.
Mr Tsvangirai said that Wednesday's poll was "null and void".Mr Tsvangirai said that Wednesday's poll was "null and void".
The largest group of election observers described the vote as "seriously compromised" and said up to a million Zimbabweans were prevented from voting.The largest group of election observers described the vote as "seriously compromised" and said up to a million Zimbabweans were prevented from voting.
Mr Mugabe's party - which is claiming a victory - denied the accusations, saying the voting went smoothly.Mr Mugabe's party - which is claiming a victory - denied the accusations, saying the voting went smoothly.
The 89-year-old leader is running for a seventh term as president.The 89-year-old leader is running for a seventh term as president.
The head of the African Union observer mission, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, said his initial assessment was that the vote was free and fair.The head of the African Union observer mission, former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, said his initial assessment was that the vote was free and fair.
And other regional observers have praised the peaceful nature of the election.And other regional observers have praised the peaceful nature of the election.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has five days to declare who won the poll.The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has five days to declare who won the poll.
The commission said vote counting at polling stations had been completed on Thursday, and results were now being collated, the AFP news agency reports.The commission said vote counting at polling stations had been completed on Thursday, and results were now being collated, the AFP news agency reports.
It is illegal to publish unofficial election results in Zimbabwe. Police have warned they will take action against anyone trying to leak early results.It is illegal to publish unofficial election results in Zimbabwe. Police have warned they will take action against anyone trying to leak early results.
Extra police units - some in riot gear - have now been deployed in the capital, Harare. There are, however, numerous unofficial reports suggesting that candidates from Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF have done well in the parliamentary elections which were also held on Wednesday.
Extra police units - some in riot gear - have been deployed in the capital, Harare.
Legal challenges are now likely to follow, but much will depend on whether Zimbabwe's neighbours endorse the poll, the BBC's Andrew Harding in Johannesburg reports.Legal challenges are now likely to follow, but much will depend on whether Zimbabwe's neighbours endorse the poll, the BBC's Andrew Harding in Johannesburg reports.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC), the 15-member regional bloc, has said it will give its verdict on the elections on Friday, AFP reports.The Southern African Development Community (SADC), the 15-member regional bloc, has said it will give its verdict on the elections on Friday, AFP reports.
'Sham election''Sham election'
Speaking at his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) headquarters in Harare, Mr Tsvangirai said: "Our conclusion is that this has been a huge farce. Speaking at the headquarters of his Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party in Harare, Mr Tsvangirai said: "Our conclusion is that this has been a huge farce.
"The credibility of this election has been marred by administrative and legal violations which affected the legitimacy of its outcome."The credibility of this election has been marred by administrative and legal violations which affected the legitimacy of its outcome.
"It's a sham election that does not reflect the will of the people.""It's a sham election that does not reflect the will of the people."
The chair of the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) - the largest grouping of domestic observers - has told the BBC that the voting was compromised as many people were unable to cast their ballots.The chair of the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) - the largest grouping of domestic observers - has told the BBC that the voting was compromised as many people were unable to cast their ballots.
Solomon Zwana praised "the relative calm and peace that the election has enjoyed", but said the organisation remained "concerned about some cases of irregularities that have occurred in some areas".Solomon Zwana praised "the relative calm and peace that the election has enjoyed", but said the organisation remained "concerned about some cases of irregularities that have occurred in some areas".
The ZESN said that potential voters were much more likely to be turned away from polling stations in urban areas, where support for Mr Tsvangirai is strong, than in President Mugabe's rural strongholds.The ZESN said that potential voters were much more likely to be turned away from polling stations in urban areas, where support for Mr Tsvangirai is strong, than in President Mugabe's rural strongholds.
It claims that up to one million of the country's 6.4 million eligible voters were prevented from casting their ballots.It claims that up to one million of the country's 6.4 million eligible voters were prevented from casting their ballots.
On Wednesday, villagers, MDC polling agents and the ZESN said there had been voting irregularities in rural parts of Masvingo province. Zanu-PF's senior members were already celebrating their victory.
They said local traditional leaders and village heads had lined up people, forcibly marched them to the polling stations and given them voting numbers as if to cross-check who they had voted for. "We have romped [to victory] in a very emphatic manner," one member - who asked not to be named - told AFP.
They also allege that in these areas some literate people were forced to pretend they could not read or write, and were assisted to cast their vote in favour of Zanu-PF. Former minister David Coltart - who is a member of the breakaway MDC-Mutambara faction - said in a statement published on Facebook that he had lost his parliamentary seat. Detailing his suspicions over voting patterns in the Bulawayo East constituency, he said "Zimbabwe has been subjected to electoral fraud on a massive scale".
Zanu-PF spokesman Psychology Maziwisa denied that many voters had been deliberately prevented from registering.
He admitted that there were some irregularities, but stressed that both main parties had been affected.
"You've got to bear in mind that that was partly due to the fact that resources were not being made available by the finance minister who is Tendai Biti, who comes from the Movement for Democratic Change party," Mr Maziwisa told the BBC.
He was speaking as Zanu-PF's senior members were already celebrating their victory.
"We have romped [to victory] in a very emphatic manner," one member - who asked not to be named - told the AFP news agency.
'Dead' voters'Dead' voters
Mr Mugabe has pledged to step down after 33 years in power if he and his party lose.Mr Mugabe has pledged to step down after 33 years in power if he and his party lose.
President Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and and Mr Tsvangirai's MDC have shared an uneasy coalition government since 2009 under a deal brokered to end the deadly violence that erupted after a disputed presidential poll the previous year. Zanu-PF and the MDC have shared an uneasy coalition government since 2009 under a deal brokered to end the deadly violence that erupted after a disputed presidential poll the previous year.
In addition to Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai, there are three other candidates standing for the presidency: Welshman Ncube, leader of the breakaway MDC-Mutambara; Dumiso Dabengwa of the Zimbabwe African People's Union (Zapu), and Kisinoti Munodei Mukwazhe, who represents the small Zimbabwe Development Party (ZDP).In addition to Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai, there are three other candidates standing for the presidency: Welshman Ncube, leader of the breakaway MDC-Mutambara; Dumiso Dabengwa of the Zimbabwe African People's Union (Zapu), and Kisinoti Munodei Mukwazhe, who represents the small Zimbabwe Development Party (ZDP).
If no candidate in the presidential vote gains 50% of the ballots, a run-off will be held on 11 September.If no candidate in the presidential vote gains 50% of the ballots, a run-off will be held on 11 September.
Zimbabweans were also voting for members of the new parliament in Wednesday's elections.