Zimbabwe

Electoral commission will "soon" decide date for run-off

Article published on the 2008-05-04 Latest update 2008-05-05 07:02 TU

Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of the MDC
(Photo : AFP)

Zimbabwe's electoral commission said Sunday it will soon decide the date for a second round of presidential elections, amid mounting tension as the opposition mulled over whether it would take part.

"I cannot state exactly when the run-off will be held but I can confirm that the poll will be held on a date to be announced by the commission," ZEC chairman George Chiweshe was quoted as saying.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), who says its leader Morgan Tsvangirai won the March 29 election outright, is set to announce on Monday whether it will contest a run-off.

The former unionist had said previously there was "no need for a run-off" but he may take part in a second round if international observers were present.

It is unlikely that Tsvangirai will boycott the run-off as this would mean incumbent Robert Mugabe would automatically win.

Zimbabwe has been rocked by post-poll violence since the announcement of parliamentary results saw the ruling Zimbabwe African Union Party National Front (ZANU-PF) Party, lost control of the lower house. Human rights groups say dozens may have been killed in the fighting.

The stand-off in Zimbabwe has been accompanied by a wave of political violence that human rights groups and the MDC say are aimed at forcing people to vote for Mugabe in a second round.

South Africa's ruling African National Congress has encouraged the parties to seek a compromise in the form of a government of national unity, rather than going into a run-off.