Zimbabwe opposition meets to discuss presidential run-off
Saturday, 03 May 2008 16:03
Movement for Democratic Change meets to discuss whether Morgan Tsvangirai should contest Zimbabwean presidential run-off
Senior members of
Zimbabwe's main opposition party are today discussing their next step after results in the country's presidential election proved indecisive.
The Zimbabwean electoral commission (Zec) yesterday said that a run-off between Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai and Robert Mugabe was necessary after neither man gained 50 per cent of the popular vote.
Zec's announcement, more than a month after the polls closed, gave Mr Tsvangirai 47.9 per cent of the vote and Mr Mugabe, who has led Zimbabwe since 1980, 43.2 per cent.
The MDC has repeatedly claimed in the last four weeks that its leader is the country's rightful president after gaining 50.3 per cent of the vote.
Its members are meeting in Harare this weekend to determine the party's next step.
If Mr Tsvangirai opts not to contest the run-off, which is due to be held in May, then Mr Mugabe, 84, will automatically secure another term as president.
MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa has already condemned Zec's announcement as "blatant cheating".
Mr Mugabe's Zanu-PF party has already lost its control of parliament to the MDC, and western governments and the United Nations have put pressure on his administration to accept the results of the polls.
Speaking on Friday, the UK Foreign Office said Mr Mugabe's tenuous grip on power was now "lacking credibility".