Tsvangirai wins but it's not over yet

Harare - Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai beat Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe's presidential election, winning 47 percent of the vote against the president's 43 percent, senior government sources said on Wednesday night.

One source, declining to be named, said that a run-off would be needed because Tsvangirai did not win enough votes for an outright victory.

Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change has said that he won the March 29 vote outright and accuses Mugabe, in power for 28 years, of delaying results to rig victory.

The stand-off over the election has raised fears of widespread bloodshed. According to MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa, 20 people have been killed in politically motivated attacks since the elections.



The opposition earlier said 15 of its supporters had been killed in post-election violence by supporters of Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party and hundreds injured.

Chamisa said that more than 5 000 families had been displaced from their homes recently as a result of attacks by pro-government militias.

"The cases of violence are increasing, with an escalation in the torching of houses," Chamisa said.

Tsvangirai has said there was no need for a second round because he won outright, but had also suggested he could take part if there were international observers led by the United Nations.

If Tsvangirai refused to take part in a run-off, Mugabe would be declared the winner, according to election rules.

There was no comment on the leaked result from the electoral commission, which has invited candidates to start verifying the count today.

Opposition officials were also not available for comment.

Zimbabweans had hoped the election would ease economic turmoil. Instead, severe food, fuel and foreign currency shortages are worsening, and there are no signs that the inflation rate of 165 000 percent will decrease.

The MDC and human rights groups allege that Zanu-PF has embarked on a violent campaign to scare Zimbabweans into voting for Mugabe in a run-off. The government has denied this. - Reuters-AFP

• Source Url: http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?art_id=vn20080501062146196C369476
  
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