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Mugabe 'prepared to face run-off' Mugabe 'prepared to face run-off'
(about 3 hours later)
Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe is ready to contest a second round of the presidential election, a spokesman for his ruling Zanu-PF party says.Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe is ready to contest a second round of the presidential election, a spokesman for his ruling Zanu-PF party says.
Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga said if results from Saturday's election showed a second round was necessary, Mr Mugabe would stand.Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga said if results from Saturday's election showed a second round was necessary, Mr Mugabe would stand.
Official results from the presidential poll have yet to be issued, but the opposition says it won the vote.Official results from the presidential poll have yet to be issued, but the opposition says it won the vote.
Mr Mugabe has been seen on state TV meeting African Union observers. Mr Mugabe has been seen in his first TV appearance since the poll.
Mr Matonga told the BBC: "If there is no clear winner, the laws stress that you have to go for a run-off." State TV carried footage of him meeting former Sierra Leone President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah.
Mr Tejan Kabbah also had talks with opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, AFP reports, prompting further speculation that some form of African mediation effort is under way.
'Not giving up'
On the issue of a run-off, Mr Matonga told the BBC: "If there is no clear winner, the laws stress that you have to go for a run-off."
Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC has ended Mr Mugabe's grip on parliament The rivals
Under election rules, a candidate needs to win just over 50% of the vote to avoid a second round.Under election rules, a candidate needs to win just over 50% of the vote to avoid a second round.
"President Mugabe is going to fight to the last, and he's not giving up, he's not going anywhere, he hasn't lost the election," said Mr Matonga."President Mugabe is going to fight to the last, and he's not giving up, he's not going anywhere, he hasn't lost the election," said Mr Matonga.
Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC has ended Mr Mugabe's grip on parliament href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/check/player/nol/newsid_7320000/newsid_7327300?redirect=7327374.stm&news=1&nbram=1&bbwm=1&nbwm=1&bbram=1&asb=1" onClick="javascript:newsi.utils.av.launch({el:this});return false;">The rivals Zanu-PF was leading in the popular vote and if translated into a presidential vote, that would mean victory for Mr Mugabe, he said.
Zanu-PF was leading in the popular vote, he said. If translated into a presidential vote, that would mean victory for Mr Mugabe, he said. Zanu-PF's leadership is holding a meeting on Friday to discuss strategy. Local reporters say the party is split on whether Mr Mugabe should fight on.
Dispute Party sources are reported as saying the meeting will be chaired by Mr Mugabe and the election will be at the centre of discussions.
Official results from the parliamentary election, published by the Zimbabwe Election Commission on Wednesday, gave Mr Mugabe's party the lead in terms of the popular vote - 45.9% to 42.8% for the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Parliamentary results
But the MDC won a majority of seats, displacing Zanu-PF, final official results show. The opposition received a boost from the publication of official results from the parliamentary election on Wednesday.
Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC took 99 seats, while Mr Mugabe's party polled 97. A smaller MDC faction which backed former Zanu-PF minister Simba Makoni in the presidential polls won 10 seats leaving them in a powerful position. Figures from the Zimbabwe Election Commission gave the MDC a majority of seats, displacing Zanu-PF.
With presidential election results still awaited, the MDC said on Wednesday that its leader had won, though Zanu-PF denied this. Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC took 99 seats, while Mr Mugabe's party polled 97. A smaller MDC faction which backed former Zanu-PF minister Simba Makoni in the presidential polls won 10 seats leaving them with a potentially influential future role.
The MDC released its own results to back up its claim of victory in the presidential poll, saying Mr Tsvangirai had won 50.3% of the vote to Mr Mugabe's 43.8%, so avoiding a second round of voting.
ELECTION RESULTS SO FAR Presidential results None so farWinner needs more than 50% to avoid run-off Source: ZEC Hope for change in ZimbabweIs Mugabe losing his grip?UK 'will stand with Zimbabweans'ELECTION RESULTS SO FAR Presidential results None so farWinner needs more than 50% to avoid run-off Source: ZEC Hope for change in ZimbabweIs Mugabe losing his grip?UK 'will stand with Zimbabweans'
But in terms of the popular vote, the figures gave Mr Mugabe's party the lead - 45.9% to 42.8% for the MDC.
With presidential election results still awaited, the MDC said on Wednesday that its leader had won, though Zanu-PF denied this.
The MDC released its own results to back up its claim, saying Mr Tsvangirai had won 50.3% of the vote to Mr Mugabe's 43.8%, so avoiding a second round of voting.
But those figures differ slightly with the Zimbabwe Election Support Network, a coalition of civil society organisations, who said Mr Tsvangirai had won 49% to Mr Mugabe's 42% - which if true would necessitate a run-off.But those figures differ slightly with the Zimbabwe Election Support Network, a coalition of civil society organisations, who said Mr Tsvangirai had won 49% to Mr Mugabe's 42% - which if true would necessitate a run-off.
Zanu-PF meeting Official results for the 60-seat upper house, the Senate, are also still awaited.
Zanu-PF's leadership is holding a meeting on Friday to discuss strategy. Local reporters say the party is split on whether Mr Mugabe should fight on. Mr Mugabe, 84, came to power 28 years ago at independence on a wave of optimism.
State radio says that results for the 60-seat upper house, the Senate, are expected to be issued by the Zimbabwe Election Commission on Thursday. But in recent years Zimbabwe has been plagued by the world's highest inflation, as well as acute food and fuel shortages.
In further international pressure, UK Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the results of the presidential election now had to be announced swiftly.
Mr Mugabe, 84, came to power 28 years ago at independence but in recent years Zimbabwe has been plagued by the world's highest inflation, as well as acute food and fuel shortages.
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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