MDC eyes terms for run-off in Zimbabwe

Published on Sunday 4 May 2008 22:36

ZIMBABWE'S main opposition party is discussing possible conditions for Morgan Tsvangirai, its leader, to contest a run-off election against Robert Mugabe, the country's president, a senior party official said yesterday.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has not decided whether to contest a second-round vote, having rejected the official results of the 29 March election, which show that Mr Tsvangirai won with less than the outright majority needed.

If Mr Tsvangirai does not stand, it would automatically hand victory to Mr Mugabe.

The MDC official said party leaders were hammering out conditions they would demand for Mr Tsvangirai's participation in a second vote – including strong international observation and the quick release of results.

The opposition claims the month-long delay in announcing the result allowed the outcome to be rigged, showing that Mr Tsvangirai won 47.9 per cent of the vote to Mr Mugabe's 43.2 per cent.

One resolution discussed by the MDC's national executive made clear that a run-off was inevitable. It called on election officials to release the results of a second vote within 48 hours and for Mr Mugabe to concede defeat if he lost, the MDC official, who asked not to be named, said.

"International supervision should be mandatory, the whole African Union should be allowed in.

"Over and above that, there has to be an end to politically motivated violence," said the official, who attended a high-level MDC meeting over the weekend.