Mugabe rival calls recount illegal
MDC chief Morgan Tsvangirai says poll recount intended to reverse his party’s gains.
The MDC regards the ZEC, whose leadership is appointed by the government, as a partisan body despite its nominal independent status.
‘Rigging’ allegations
“We have no doubt … ballot boxes have been stuffed. Those ballot boxes have become pregnant and reproduced” Tendai Biti, |
Zanu-PF lost in 21 of the 23 constituencies due to be examined and hopes that a new count will enable it to retake control of the 210-seat assembly.
“We, as a party, will not accept any recount in respect of parliamentary seats,” Tendai Biti, MDC secretary-general, said.
“We have no doubt on the insistence of a recount because ballot boxes have been stuffed.
“Those ballot boxes have become pregnant and reproduced.”
Presidential vote
Tsvangirai has already announced himself the victor over Mugabe in the presidential vote, saying that he won a majority on March 29.
Protesters voiced concerns that Mugabe might |
But Zanu-PF says that neither Mugabe nor Tsvangirai won over 50 per cent of the vote needed to win the presidency.
The party has declared that there will be a run-off presidential election with Mugabe as its candidate.
During celebrations to mark Zimbabwe’s 28th anniversary of independence from Britain on Friday, Mugabe did not mention the election outcome or whether he would stand in a run-off.
He instead criticised Britain, saying it had bribed voters to mark their ballots for the MDC.
“Through money as a weapon, [the British] literally buy some of our people to turn against their government, and accept to be politically manipulated in abandoning their rights,” he said.
Chinese weapons
A Chinese ship carrying a consignment of weapons bound for Zimbabwe is believed to be heading for Angola.
The vessel first attempted to dock in South Africa, but a labour union refused to allow dockers to unload the goods in Durban on the grounds they believed the arms might be used against president Mugabe’s opponents.
A high court judge in South Africa ruled on Friday that the weapons could not be transported through the country into Zimbabwe.
The ship then sailed north towards Mozambique, but the government barred it from its waters.
Tsvangirai has alleged that Zanu-PF is preparing for a “war” against the people of Zimbabwe.