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Mugabe 'prepared to face run-off' | Mugabe 'prepared to face run-off' |
(30 minutes 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 in his first TV appearance since the poll. | Mr Mugabe has been seen in his first TV appearance since the poll. |
State TV carried footage of him meeting former Sierra Leone President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah. | 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. | 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. |
There are reports that senior members of the MDC leadership in Zimbabwe have gone into hiding after their offices in a Harare hotel were ransacked, BBC sources say. | |
An annexe of the hotel, a lodge housing foreign journalists, has been raided by paramilitary police, a journalist who fled the hotel told the BBC by telephone. | |
'Not giving up' | 'Not giving up' |
On the issue of a run-off, Zanu-PF's Mr Matonga told the BBC: "If there is no clear winner, the laws stress that you have to go for a run-off." | On the issue of a run-off, Zanu-PF's 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 | Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC has ended Mr Mugabe's grip on parliament The rivals |
Under election rules, a candidate needs to win at least 50% of the vote to avoid a second round. | Under election rules, a candidate needs to win at least 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. |
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 and 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. | 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. |
Party sources are reported as saying the meeting will be chaired by Mr Mugabe and the election will be at the centre of discussions. | Party sources are reported as saying the meeting will be chaired by Mr Mugabe and the election will be at the centre of discussions. |
A BBC correspondent in Zimbabwe said there was a general sense of the nation being in limbo. | A BBC correspondent in Zimbabwe said there was a general sense of the nation being in limbo. |
Fewer riot police are on the streets than on Wednesday, our correspondent says, but although some people have held parties this week to celebrate what they see as a likely MDC win, no-one was feeling quite so confident on Thursday. | Fewer riot police are on the streets than on Wednesday, our correspondent says, but although some people have held parties this week to celebrate what they see as a likely MDC win, no-one was feeling quite so confident on Thursday. |
A leading Zanu-PF figure told our correspondent that members of the party's top decision-making body, the politburo, were getting distinctly nervous: "If you were them, you wouldn't want to put all your eggs in one basket," our correspondent was told. | A leading Zanu-PF figure told our correspondent that members of the party's top decision-making body, the politburo, were getting distinctly nervous: "If you were them, you wouldn't want to put all your eggs in one basket," our correspondent was told. |
Parliamentary results | Parliamentary results |
The opposition received a boost from the publication of official results from the parliamentary election on Wednesday. | The opposition received a boost from the publication of official results from the parliamentary election on Wednesday. |
Figures from the Zimbabwe Election Commission gave the MDC a majority of seats, displacing Zanu-PF. | Figures from the Zimbabwe Election Commission gave the MDC a majority of seats, displacing Zanu-PF. |
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. | 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. |
ELECTION RESULTS SO FAR Presidential results None so farWinner needs more than 50% to avoid run-off Source: ZEC Voters predict resultsIs Mugabe losing his grip?Party ready to abandon Mugabe? | ELECTION RESULTS SO FAR Presidential results None so farWinner needs more than 50% to avoid run-off Source: ZEC Voters predict resultsIs Mugabe losing his grip?Party ready to abandon Mugabe? |
But in terms of the popular vote, the figures gave Mr Mugabe's party the lead - 45.9% to 42.8% for the MDC. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
The electoral commission said on Thursday that official results for the 60-seat upper house, the Senate, had been delayed because of "logistical problems". | The electoral commission said on Thursday that official results for the 60-seat upper house, the Senate, had been delayed because of "logistical problems". |
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. | 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 below | 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 |