Zimbabwe's electoral commission has ordered a recount of ballots in 23 disputed constituencies in 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.
After a marathon summit in Lusaka, southern African leaders called for results to be speedily published.
After a marathon summit in Lusaka, southern African leaders called for results to be speedily published.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders also urged all parties to accept the election results.
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders also urged all parties to accept the election results.
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, but the results of the presidential poll have not been released.
Elections at all those levels were held on 29 March, but the results of the presidential poll have not been released.
The MDC has claimed its candidate, Morgan Tsvangirai, won the presidency.
The MDC has claimed its candidate, Morgan Tsvangirai, won the presidency.
This is a major improvement, SADC has acquitted itself fairly well Tendai BitiMDC
The MDC has also made it clear that it will not accept results based on recounts.
The MDC has also 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.
"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."
"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
Leaders from the 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC), ended nearly 13 hours of talks early on Sunday.
Leaders from the 14-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC), ended nearly 13 hours of talks early on Sunday.
They had been holding an emergency summit in Zambia's capital, Lusaka, to try to resolve their neighbour's political deadlock.
They had been holding an emergency summit in Zambia's capital, Lusaka, to try to resolve their neighbour's political deadlock.
The MDC says Morgan Tsvangirai won the presidential election outright
The MDC says Morgan Tsvangirai won the presidential election outright
A joint declaration called for:
A joint declaration called for:
Zimbabwe's election commission to speedily verify and publish the election results;
Zimbabwe's election commission to speedily verify and publish the election results;
all parties to accept the results;
all parties to accept the results;
and for South African President Thabo Mbeki to continue his role as SADC's "facilitator on Zimbabwe".
and for South African President Thabo Mbeki to continue his role as SADC's "facilitator on Zimbabwe".
Mr Mbeki had met Mr Mugabe in Harare before the Lusaka summit, but could not convince him to attend.
A senior MDC official called on Mr Mbeki to show "more vigour, more openness and a complete abandonment of the policy of quiet diplomacy".
But Tendai Biti said he was satisfied with the outcome of the meeting.
"This is a major improvement, SADC has acquitted itself fairly well."
Mr Mbeki had met Mr Mugabe in Harare before the Lusaka summit, but could not convince him to attend the meeting
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 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 Lusaka.
Are you in Zimbabwe? Tell us about your experiences - send us your comments using the form below.
Are you in Zimbabwe? Tell us about your experiences - send us your comments using the form below.
