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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Warning on Zimbabwe victory claim | Warning on Zimbabwe victory claim |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Zimbabwe's government and electoral chiefs have warned the main opposition MDC it should not declare an early victory in the presidential poll. | Zimbabwe's government and electoral chiefs have warned the main opposition MDC it should not declare an early victory in the presidential poll. |
| The MDC, which has repeatedly expressed fears of rigging, has started to quote unofficial returns, saying it has 67% of the vote so far and "has won". | The MDC, which has repeatedly expressed fears of rigging, has started to quote unofficial returns, saying it has 67% of the vote so far and "has won". |
| The electoral commission said it was "concerned" at the "purported" results. | |
| The information minister accused the MDC of "speculation and lies" and "causing unnecessary havoc". | |
| Incumbent President Robert Mugabe was facing a challenge from the MDC's Morgan Tsvangirai and the independent Simba Makoni. | Incumbent President Robert Mugabe was facing a challenge from the MDC's Morgan Tsvangirai and the independent Simba Makoni. |
| House of Assembly, Senate and local elections were held on the same day. Officials say the final results may not be known for a few days. | House of Assembly, Senate and local elections were held on the same day. Officials say the final results may not be known for a few days. |
| Commission's plea | Commission's plea |
| The secretary general of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Tendai Biti, says it has returns from one-third of polling stations. | The secretary general of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Tendai Biti, says it has returns from one-third of polling stations. |
| He [Mugabe] is going to get the shock of his life because they are not voting for him. Mugabe will be out by Monday night Bomba Zimbo, Harare Zimbabwe votes: At a glanceElection day: In quotes Mr Biti says they show a 67% vote for the MDC in the presidential vote, with the party also winning most parliamentary seats in Harare and Bulawayo. | He [Mugabe] is going to get the shock of his life because they are not voting for him. Mugabe will be out by Monday night Bomba Zimbo, Harare Zimbabwe votes: At a glanceElection day: In quotes Mr Biti says they show a 67% vote for the MDC in the presidential vote, with the party also winning most parliamentary seats in Harare and Bulawayo. |
| Mr Biti said the MDC was making inroads in the rural areas, including Mr Mugabe's home province of Mashonaland West. | Mr Biti said the MDC was making inroads in the rural areas, including Mr Mugabe's home province of Mashonaland West. |
| "We have won this election," said Mr Biti. "This trend is irreversible." | "We have won this election," said Mr Biti. "This trend is irreversible." |
| Mr Mugabe blames Zimbabwe's problems on a Western plot Robert Mugabe BBC contributors say opposition activists have been celebrating in the towns of Bulawayo and Mutare in the east. | Mr Mugabe blames Zimbabwe's problems on a Western plot Robert Mugabe BBC contributors say opposition activists have been celebrating in the towns of Bulawayo and Mutare in the east. |
| A spokesman for Mr Makoni told the BBC News website that the MDC had "swept the board" in the parliamentary election, with several ministers losing their seats. | A spokesman for Mr Makoni told the BBC News website that the MDC had "swept the board" in the parliamentary election, with several ministers losing their seats. |
| But the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission said the country must wait for official results. | But the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission said the country must wait for official results. |
| Chief elections officer Lovemore Sekeramayi said in a statement: "The commission notes with concern that some stakeholders have gone on to announce purported results of the poll when in fact the results are being verified and collated. | Chief elections officer Lovemore Sekeramayi said in a statement: "The commission notes with concern that some stakeholders have gone on to announce purported results of the poll when in fact the results are being verified and collated. |
| "Those results are not official results of the poll." | "Those results are not official results of the poll." |
| The MDC says the commission was appointed by Mr Mugabe and is not to be trusted. | The MDC says the commission was appointed by Mr Mugabe and is not to be trusted. |
| The government went further in its condemnation of the MDC. | The government went further in its condemnation of the MDC. |
| Morgan Tsvangirai said he was confident of victory Morgan Tsvangirai | Morgan Tsvangirai said he was confident of victory Morgan Tsvangirai |
| Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said: "We have warned against speculation, against self-declared winners. | Information Minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said: "We have warned against speculation, against self-declared winners. |
| "Biti and the MDC are famous for speculation and lies peddling in the country and causing unnecessary havoc here." | "Biti and the MDC are famous for speculation and lies peddling in the country and causing unnecessary havoc here." |
| The state-run Sunday Mail quoted the ministry's secretary, George Charamba, as saying that if Mr Tsvangirai declared himself president "it is called a coup d'etat and we all know how coups are handled". | The state-run Sunday Mail quoted the ministry's secretary, George Charamba, as saying that if Mr Tsvangirai declared himself president "it is called a coup d'etat and we all know how coups are handled". |
| Mr Biti said the MDC was just "protecting its vote" and would not make the "mistake" of the 2002 and 2005 elections when it did not claim victory. | Mr Biti said the MDC was just "protecting its vote" and would not make the "mistake" of the 2002 and 2005 elections when it did not claim victory. |
| He warned the MDC would not accept a "stolen election". | He warned the MDC would not accept a "stolen election". |
| Rigging fears | Rigging fears |
| BBC Southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles says the MDC's claims are based on partial, unofficial results. | BBC Southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles says the MDC's claims are based on partial, unofficial results. |
| The more slowly-counted votes from the rural areas, where President Mugabe has always had majority support, may decide the final outcome. | The more slowly-counted votes from the rural areas, where President Mugabe has always had majority support, may decide the final outcome. |
| ZIMBABWE POLLS - KEY FACTS Some 5.9m eligible votersThey elect president, parliament and local government Nearly 9,000 polling stations Winner needs more than 50% to avoid presidential run-off In pictures: Zimbabwe votesQ&A: Zimbabwe elections | ZIMBABWE POLLS - KEY FACTS Some 5.9m eligible votersThey elect president, parliament and local government Nearly 9,000 polling stations Winner needs more than 50% to avoid presidential run-off In pictures: Zimbabwe votesQ&A: Zimbabwe elections |
| Before the election, state-run media predicted Mr Mugabe would win 57%. | Before the election, state-run media predicted Mr Mugabe would win 57%. |
| A candidate needs more than 50% in the presidential vote to avoid a run-off in three weeks' time. | A candidate needs more than 50% in the presidential vote to avoid a run-off in three weeks' time. |
| The MDC has repeatedly expressed fears the election will be rigged. | The MDC has repeatedly expressed fears the election will be rigged. |
| Across the country on Saturday, there were reports of voters not being allowed to cast ballots - either because their names were not on the voters' roll or because they were trying to vote in the wrong ward. | Across the country on Saturday, there were reports of voters not being allowed to cast ballots - either because their names were not on the voters' roll or because they were trying to vote in the wrong ward. |
| The opposition feared many voters would be intimidated and stay at home. | The opposition feared many voters would be intimidated and stay at home. |
| HAVE YOUR SAYThe elections will no doubt be free and fair. The allegations being peddled are unfoundedSosten Musiniwa, HarareSend us your commentsBut many voters told the BBC the system had worked efficiently and the atmosphere was good. | HAVE YOUR SAYThe elections will no doubt be free and fair. The allegations being peddled are unfoundedSosten Musiniwa, HarareSend us your commentsBut many voters told the BBC the system had worked efficiently and the atmosphere was good. |
| After voting in Harare, Mr Mugabe, in power since 1980 and seeking a sixth term, dismissed opposition concerns, saying: "We don't rig elections. I cannot sleep with my conscience if I have rigged." | After voting in Harare, Mr Mugabe, in power since 1980 and seeking a sixth term, dismissed opposition concerns, saying: "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. |
| The chiefs of Zimbabwe's police, army, prison service and intelligence services warned on Friday that violence after the polls would not be tolerated. | The chiefs of Zimbabwe's police, army, prison service and intelligence services warned on Friday that violence after the polls would not be tolerated. |