Zimbabwe’s opposition keeps lead in vote recount

Zimbabwe’s electoral commission has released seven more results from a partial recount of last month’s parliamentary elections.

None of the original results were overturned, making it difficult for the ruling Zanu-PF party to overturn an opposition majority in the lower house.

Ten remain to be declared – all in opposition-held seats – and Zanu-PF now needs to win nine to regain control.

Results have still not been released from the parallel presidential poll.

The failure to do so, four weeks on from the vote, is causing mounting concern internationally.

US Assistant Secretary of State Jendayi Frazer said the level of government intimidation in Zimbabwe was now so high that a fair run-off would not be possible.

She said the only solution was a inclusive government, led by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.

Recount unfinished

The state-run Zimbabwe Herald newspaper said Zanu-PF had retained two seats and the opposition MDC four seats, while a breakaway MDC group held the seventh.

Another six have already been declared, but in 10 the recount is still unfinished a week after it was announced.

The BBC’s Peter Biles, in Johannesburg, says there is still no word on the presidential election, although it is possible results will be released when the parliamentary recount ends.

The MDC says its leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, won the election outright, while independent monitors say he fell just short of the 50% threshold to avoid a run-off.

Zanu-PF also says there is likely to be a run-off, as no candidate gained more than 50% of the vote.

The results come a day after the MDC’s main Harare office and the headquarters of an independent monitoring network were raided by police.

Computers and documents were seized, and more than 100 opposition activists taking refuge from the authorities at the MDC offices were arrested.

The MDC says its activists have been attacked around the country – with at least 10 killed – since the elections.
But the police and Zanu-PF say that no-one has died in political violence.

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has fled Zimbabwe, fearing for his safety and is touring African countries, trying to persuade them to press President Robert Mugabe to step down.

Source: BBC