Zimbabwe Opposition Meets to Decide on Runoff
By VOA News
03 May 2008
Zimbabwe's main opposition party is meeting Saturday to decide whether party leader Morgan Tsvangirai will participate in a presidential runoff vote.
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change is rejecting long-delayed official results from the country's March 29 election that show Mr. Tsvangirai defeating President Robert Mugabe, but falling short of the majority needed to avoid a second-round vote.
If Mr. Tsvangirai does not take part in the runoff, Mr. Mugabe would automatically win another term as president.
Speaking to reporters in South Africa Friday, MDC Secretary-General Tendai Biti accused the electoral commission of robbing tens of thousands of votes from Mr. Tsvangirai. Biti said Mr. Tsvangirai should be declared the winner, and he indicated the party is willing to form a national unity government if Mr. Mugabe concedes.
An aide to Mr. Mugabe says the president will take part in the runoff.
The March 29 presidential and parliamentary elections were the biggest challenge Mr. Mugabe has faced since he took power in 1980, when Zimbabwe gained independence from Britain. The MDC has already been declared the winner of the parliamentary race.
The ruling party said Friday it will begin a legal challenge to 52 parliamentary seats won by the opposition. Election officials had earlier ordered a recount of 23 constituencies won by the opposition.
Zimbabwe's government has come under intense international criticism for holding up the results of the presidential poll. Mr. Mugabe's critics say the results were delayed so he could alter them, orchestrate a runoff and hold onto power.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and AP.
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