- Title: ZIMBABWE/SOUTH AFRICA: Mugabe moves to run-off for Zimbabwe presidency
- Date: 3rd May 2008
- Summary: (BN14) JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (MAY 2, 2008) (REUTERS - ACCESS-ALL) JOURNALISTS SITTING PHOTOGRAPHER (SOUNDBITE) (English) MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE GENERAL SECRETARY, TENDAI BITI, SAYING: "ZEC (Zimbabwean Electoral Commission) was trying to reengineer the figures from the complete outright win to a figure where they would do two things, they would reengineer our own figures to below 50% and at the same time, they would increase Mugabe's vote so that there is some semblance of credibility should the whole thing be forwarded or subjected to a run-off, and the announcement today confirms that theft, the grand theft and attempt to reverse the people's gains of the 29th of March 2008, this does not surprise us, this is consistent with the regime that is not ready to let go of power. This is consistent with an individual Robert Mugabe who will do anything and everything legally and extra legally to reproduce his repression his tyranny in Zimbabwe. This is consistent with the mindset of someone who has a divine right to rule and misrule Zimbabwe, someone who has never imagined in his own life, that he would survive a second without being the head of state of Zimbabwe" MORE OF MEDIA LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE GENERAL SECRETARY, TENDAI BITI, SAYING: "Even on their own announcement by construction of the Section 3 of the second schedule of the electoral act, we have won this election, and therefore Morgan Tsvangirai has to be declared the President of Zimbabwe, however it is quite clear that there has been an attempt at a grand theft, grand kleptocracy if you like and we maintain that the valid and true result is that which were announced on the second of April 2008, namely that we have won this election." JOURNALISTS TAKING NOTES
- Embargoed: 18th May 2008 13:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: International Relations,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA9K29KCTE9MHXRKLBF2414R163
- Story Text: Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe accepts that he had lost the country's presidential elections and will contest a run-off vote, his election agent said.
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe accepted that he had lost the country's presidential elections, his election agent said on Friday (May 2), after he failed to win an outright majority.
"ZANU PF election candidate R.G Mugabe accepts the results as announced and is offering himself for election in the pending whose date is yet to be announced," Emmerson Mnangagwa, ZANU PF chief election agent told reporters at a news conference in Harare.
Mnangagwa said ruling party candidates had filed petitions in court related to 52 constituencies.
"The party's candidates have filed petitions in 52 constituencies seeking the setting aside of the announced results in those constituencies, these petitions have been filed with electoral court, " he added.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) called the announcement of the long-delayed result "scandalous daylight robbery". It says Tsvangirai won more than 50 percent at the March 29 election and Mugabe's 28-year rule is over.
"ZEC (Zimbabwean Electoral Commission) was trying to reengineer the figures from the complete outright win to a figure where they would do two things, they would reengineer our own figures to below 50% and at the same time, they would increase Mugabe's vote so that there is some semblance of credibility should the whole thing be forwarded or subjected to a run-off, and the announcement today confirms that theft, the grand theft and attempt to reverse the people's gains of the 29th of March 2008, this does not surprise us, this is consistent with the regime that is not ready to let go of power," Tendai Biti, MDC general secretary said.
"We maintain that the valid and true result is that which were announced on the second of April 2008, namely that we have won this election," he added.
But the MDC has few options. If Tsvangirai refuses to take part in a second round of votes, then Mugabe would automatically keep his hold on power according to electoral law.
Tsvangirai has suggested he could only contest a second round if it was monitored by United Nations-led foreign observers. The main international observer group during the first round was from Zimbabwe's neighbours.
Chief Elections Officer Lovemore Sekeramayi said Tsvangirai won 47.9 percent with Mugabe, who has ruled since independence from Britain, on 43.2 percent. Independent Simba Makoni, a ruling party defector, took 8.3 percent.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) will set the date of the runoff. By law, a second round should be held within 21 days of the result, but the ZEC has the power to extend it. Political observers say it is likely to extend the period to within about 40 days. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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