Zimbabwe's electoral commission has ordered a recount of ballots in 23 disputed constituencies after last month's vote, local media have said.
Zimbabwe's electoral commission has ordered a recount of ballots in 23 disputed constituencies in last month's vote, local media have said.
The head of the commission said the recount would take place next Saturday, the state-owned Sunday Mail reported.
The head of the commission said the recount would take place next Saturday, the state-owned Sunday Mail reported.
The news comes as southern African leaders have been meeting to discuss the political deadlock in the country.
The news comes as southern African leaders have been meeting to discuss the political deadlock in the country.
Results from the 29 March presidential poll have not been released, but the opposition has claimed victory.
Results from the 29 March presidential poll have not been released, but the opposition has claimed victory.
The chairman of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, George Chiweshe, said the results in the 22 districts had been disputed by the ruling Zanu-PF party, while the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) contested the count in one constituency.
The chairman of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, George Chiweshe, said the results in the 22 districts had been disputed by the ruling Zanu-PF party, while the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) contested the count in one constituency.
The recount will be of all presidential, parliamentary, senate and council votes cast in those constituencies.
The recount will be of all presidential, parliamentary, senate and council votes cast in those constituencies.
Elections at all those levels were held on 29 March.
Elections at all those levels were held on 29 March.
But the MDC has made it clear that it will not accept results based on recounts.
"For us, that is accepting rigged results," MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa told Reuters news agency.
"They had custody of the ballot boxes for two weeks and they must have stuffed them with their votes."
According to results released so far, Zanu-PF has lost its majority in the House of Assembly for the first time since independence in 1980, with 97 seats against the MDC's 99 in the 210-seat chamber. A smaller MDC faction has 10 seats.
According to results released so far, Zanu-PF has lost its majority in the House of Assembly for the first time since independence in 1980, with 97 seats against the MDC's 99 in the 210-seat chamber. A smaller MDC faction has 10 seats.
In the Senate, or upper house, Zanu-PF and the combined opposition have 30 seats each.
In the Senate, or upper house, Zanu-PF and the combined opposition have 30 seats each.
Lusaka summit
Lusaka summit
The MDC says its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, won the presidential vote outright but the election commission has not released the results.
The MDC says its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, won the presidential vote outright but the election commission has not released the results.
The MDC says Morgan Tsvangirai won the presidential election outright
The MDC says Morgan Tsvangirai won the presidential election outright
Leaders from the 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) have been meeting in Zambia to try to resolve their neighbour's political deadlock.
Leaders from the 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) have been meeting in Zambia to try to resolve their neighbour's political deadlock.
The meeting, attended by Mr Tsvangirai, went late into Saturday night without any outcome.
The meeting, attended by Mr Tsvangirai, went late into Saturday night without any outcome.
South African President Thabo Mbeki had met Mr Mugabe in Harare before the Lusaka summit, but could not convince him to attend.
South African President Thabo Mbeki had met Mr Mugabe in Harare before the Lusaka summit, but could not convince him to attend.
Instead, the Zimbabwean president sent a delegation of ministers.
Instead, the Zimbabwean president sent a delegation of ministers.
A drawn-out economic collapse in Zimbabwe has seen hyper-inflation, massive unemployment and the departure of hundreds of thousands of people.
A drawn-out economic collapse in Zimbabwe has seen hyper-inflation, massive unemployment and the departure of hundreds of thousands of people.
There is an unmistakeable sense that Zimbabwe is now a crisis for the entire region of southern Africa, says the BBC's Peter Biles at the summit in Zambia's capital Lusaka.
There is an unmistakeable sense that Zimbabwe is now a crisis for the entire region of southern Africa, says the BBC's Peter Biles at the summit in Zambia's capital Lusaka.
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Are you in Zimbabwe? Tell us about your experiences - send us your comments using the form below.
