MDC will participate in run-off under protest

HARARE - Zimbabwe main opposition party Movement for Democratic Change(MDC) will contest in a run-off under protest after claiming winning majority votes in the presidential race.

MDC claimed victory over President Robert Mugabe through their own collection and collation of votes in the presidential race from results that were posted outside polling stations.

According to the Electoral Act the presidential winner must have 50 percent of the total vote plus one vote. The latest official election results show Zanu PF has lost its control of parliament.

The results show the combined opposition Movement for Democratic Change has won 105 seats in the House of Assembly so far, while the ruling party has won 93 seats.

Earlier Wednesday, the opposition claimed outright victory in the presidential election, but the ruling Zanu PF party rejected that claim.

MDC secretary general, Tendai Biti said: "President Morgan Tsvangirai has won this election. Tsvangirai will be next president of the republic of Zimbabwe, out of the total 2 382 243 votes cast in this election President Tsvangirai got more than 50 percent to avoid a run-off."

Biti said his party will contest in a run-off under protest, adding that a run-off will further embarass President Mugabe.

"We will contest in a run-off under protest.It is clear that we have won. It appears the state media is preparing the public for a run-off though it is clear we won this election.We will wait for ZEC to announce their results," Biti said.

The government controlled daily, The Herald, reported that the pattern of parliamentary results shows that they would be a run-off as neither of the candidates got more than 50 percent.

MDC says through their collection and tabulation of results show Tsvangirai garnered 50,3 percent of the total vote Robert Mugabe 43,8 percent while Simba Makoni an independent presidential candidate got 7 percent.

The MDC claims it got a total of 99 seats parliamentary seats, Zanu PF 96, MDC led by Professor Arthur Mutambara got 11 seats while one seat went to professor Jonathan Moyo an independent.

The opposition party dismissed rumours that they have been approached by Zanu PF to form a governmnent of national unity.
Election results have been trickling into the national centre being manned by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission which is announcing the results.

By 4 p.m today, according to official results MDC led by Tsvangirai was leading with 96 parlimentarians, Zanu PF had 94 and MDC led by Mutambara nine seats while Professor Jonathan Moyo is the only independent to win.

Three constituencies Gwanda South, Redcliff and Mpopoma Pelandaba are not being contested following the death of contesting candidates.

Zanu PF won the Muzarabani house of assembly seat before the elections on March 29 following failure by the opposition to field candidates in the constituency.