Zimbabwe

Opposition rejects official presidential results

Article published on the 2008-05-02 Latest update 2008-05-02 11:55 TU

Morgan Tsvangirai
(Photo : AFP)

Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic change is set to reject the official results from the presidential election in March which give no party an outright majority. All party talks hosted by Zimbabwe's electoral commission have told opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai that he won 47.8% of the vote while President Robert Mugabe polled 43.2%.

The leader of the Movement for Democratic Change is 2% short of the 50% required to avoid a run-off against President Mugabe.

Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic change has presented its own figures claiming the party won 50.3% and has refused to concede the need for a run-off.

President Mugabe has already been endorsed by his Zanu-PF party to participate in a second round of voting although he has not made any comment on whether he will stand.

The opposition and human rights groups have accused the authorities of waging a campaign of violence to ensure that Mugabe would win a second vote.