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Zimbabwe opposition claim victory
BBC
April 02, 2008

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/7326532.stm

Zimbabwe's opposition party says its leader Morgan Tsvangirai has won the presidential election, releasing its own results to back up the claim.

MDC Party Secretary General Tendai Biti said Mr Tsvangirai had won 50.3% of the vote to President Robert Mugabe's 43.8%, so avoiding a run-off.

Results have yet to be officially declared but the state-run Herald newspaper has predicted a run-off.

The ruling Zanu-PF party has dismissed the MDC claim as "wishful thinking".

Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga said it was irresponsible and could incite violence.

Vacuum
In his news conference, Mr Biti said there was "anxiety and disappointment" at the failure of the Zimbabwe Election Commission to declare presidential results.

This had produced a vacuum, he said, giving room to all sorts of rumours.

But Mr Biti said that if the election commission decided to neither of the main candidates had won outright, the MDC would be prepared to take part in a second round.

According to the MDC's tally, Simba Makoni, an independent and former Mugabe loyalist, won 7%.

Despite the MDC's declaration, the issue of whether Mr Tsvangirai has won more than 50% remains in dispute.

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network, a coalition of civil society organisations, said earlier that he had won 49% to Mr Mugabe's 42%.

It based its results on a random sample of polling stations.

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