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Harare – Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai declined to declare himself the winner of a presidential election, saying he would wait until an announcement from the electoral commission.
“I am prepared to wait until as long as the ZEC (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) confirms the results,” Tsvangirai told a news conference in his first public appearance since Saturday’s presidential and parliamentary elections.
However, Tsvangirai said he and his party had been given a clear mandate for change in the poll.
“After the 29th of March, Zimbabwe will never be the same again. In those minutes inside the polling booths each one rewrote the history of Zimbabwe. The vote we passed on Saturday was a vote for change, for a new beginning.”
Challenges
The Associated Press’s Angus Shaw reported that Tsvangirai spoke as if he already had been declared president.
“For years we have trod a journey of hunger, pain, torture and brutality. Today we face a new challenge of governing and rehabilitating our beloved country, the challenge of giving birth to a new Zimbabwe founded on restoration not retribution, on love not war.”
‘No deal’ for Mugabe to step down
(BBC News) – Zimbabwe’s opposition leader and a government minister have denied reports that a deal has been reached for President Robert Mugabe to step down.
Morgan Tsvangirai said he believed his Movement for Democratic Change had won Saturday’s election but declined to go as far as declaring himself the winner. His party would reveal their tally of results tomorrow.
In his first public appearance since the election, Mr Tsvangirai told a news conference: “Let’s not be influenced by speculation. There is no discussion, and therefore this is just a speculative story.
“Let’s wait for ZEC (Zimbabwe Electoral Commission) to complete its work and then we can discuss the circumstances that will affect the people.”
Bright Matonga, Zanu-PF’s Deputy Information Minister, also rejected reports of talks with the opposition.
(BBC News) – The outline of a deal has almost been reached for Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe to step down, opposition sources have told the BBC. The opposition says it won Saturday’s general elections.
They say that representatives of Mr Mugabe, Zimbabwe’s military chiefs and the opposition have held meetings chaired by South Africa’s president.
The sources say Mr Mugabe would give an address to the nation but urge caution until the announcement has been made.
Under the deal, Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai would be declared the winner of the presidential race after Mr Mugabe had stepped down.
The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission has not yet given the results of the presidential race, sparking MDC claims that the outcome was being fixed.
MDC Opposition: Tsvangirai won 60% of the vote
The sources say that Mr Tsvangirai’s victory was so overwhelming that Mr Mugabe would have no chance of victory, even in a run-off.
Earlier, there had been increasing speculation that a second round would be needed, as no candidate had passed the 50% threshold required for victory.
Ruling Zanu-PF officials have not yet commented on the reports.
The MDC says that Mr Tsvangirai won 60% of the vote, against 30% for Mr Mugabe.
BBC Coverage: Zimbabwe In Depth - 28 Years Dictatorship
"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."