Zimbabwe Election: Progress & Results

[Kibunango]

Kumekuwa na majadiliamo haya karibia wiki sasa na ulikiuwa unasoma mbona usitoe hizi habari mkuuu hadi muda huu ambao kuna mwelekeo wa Morgan umeanza haya ? Na wewe ni CCM wa kuua tunajua na hukuamini haya yanayo weza kutokea Zimb ndiyo hadithi ile ileya ha kusema CUF ni wahuni na wanatumiwa ?

Kamanda, Leo ndio nimekumbuka habari hii! Na kila nitakapozidi kukumbuka yaliyojili siku hiyo nitabandia hapa...

CCM chama kubwa Kamanda 😀

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

MUGABE AGEUZA KIBANO!!!


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 declare himself the winner.

He said his party would reveal their tally of results on Wednesday.

Bright Matonga, Zanu-PF's Deputy Information Minister, also rejected reports of a deal.

Parliamentary results released so far show that the MDC has 82 seats, including five for a breakaway faction of the party, against 78 for Zanu-PF, with 55 still to come.

'Vote for change'

As calls grew around the world for the final official results, the White House said it was clear the people of Zimbabwe had "voted for change"

In his first public appearance since the election, Mr Tsvangirai told a news conference on Tuesday evening: "There is no way the MDC will enter in any deal before ZEC [Zimbabwe Electoral Commission] has actually announced the result. That's the legal position."

"It is not confirmed by the [ZEC]. So any speculation about deals, about negotiations, about reaching out is not there," he added.

Zanu-PF's deputy information minister said: "There are no discussions, no negotiations."

MDC opposition sources had earlier told the BBC the outline of a deal had nearly been reached for Mr Mugabe to step down.

They said representatives of Mr Mugabe, military chiefs and the opposition had held meetings chaired by South Africa, but that government had also denied any involvement.

Call for results

The ZEC has not yet given any results in the presidential race, sparking MDC claims the outcome was being fixed.

Independent observers say Mr Tsvangirai seems to have taken the most votes in the presidential race.

ELECTION RESULTS SO FAR
Parliamentary constituencies
MDC-Tsvangirai: 77
Zanu-PF: 78
Breakaway MDC faction: 5
Yet to declare: 55
Presidential results
None so far
Winner needs more than 50% to avoid run-off
Source: ZEC


But it is not clear if he won more than the 50% majority needed to avoid a second run-off vote, which would have to be held three weeks after the 29 March election.

The Zimbabwe Election Support Network, a coalition of civil society organisations, said its random sample of poll stations indicated Mr Tsvangirai had won just over 49% of the vote and Mr Mugabe 42%.

Simba Makoni, a former Mugabe loyalist, trailed at about 8%.

Mr Mugabe, 84, has not been seen in public since the election.

Meanwhile, Gordon Johndroe, spokesman for the US National Security Council, said: "It's time for the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission to confirm the results we have all seen from the local polling stations and respected NGOs."


The European Union called on the Zimbabwean president to step down.

"If Mr Mugabe continues, there will be a coup d'etat," said Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitri Rupel, whose country holds the EU presidency.

Results were posted for the first time in this election on the doors of Zimbabwe's polling stations, allowing groups such as the MDC and observers to compile independent results.

Mr Mugabe came to power 28 years ago at independence, but the economy has been in freefall in recent years.

Zimbabweans are suffering the world's highest inflation of more than 100,000%, food and fuel shortages, and life expectancy that has plunged to 35 years.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7325524.stm

 

[Pundit]

Mugabe should not be written of yet, dinosaurs like him die hard.

If Morgan ascends, first order of business deport Mengistu to face charges in Addis.

 

[Allah's Slave]

The guy has given up. Now guys please spare him and his dignity. Let him retire peacefully. Its all over for him. He will be remembered as a hero who stood up for africans.

Soma Hapa

 

[Allah's Slave]

Zimbabwe: Mugabe Holds Back the Presidential Vote Result


Business Day (Johannesburg)

1 April 2008
Posted to the web 1 April 2008

Dumisani Muleya
Harare
TENSION mounted in Zimbabwe yesterday as it emerged that President Robert Mugabe had arbitrarily blocked the result of the weekend's cliff-hanger presidential election to manipulate it in his favour.

By late yesterday no official presidential vote results were available, prompting the US, the UK and the European Union to call for the state-run Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) to act swiftly.


Last night, Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi said the federation was "extremely concerned" over the slow counting of votes. "This snail pace just deepens all manner of suspicions," he said in Johannesburg.

Almost 48 hours after polls closed, only 67 of 210 parliamentary constituencies had been declared, showing Mugabe's Zanu (PF) party one seat ahead of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

The withholding of the result has caused a tense situation in a country already reeling from a deep economic crisis, and heightened fears of instability in the region.

On Sunday, Mugabe met the Joint Operations Command (JOC), which comprises army, police and intelligence chiefs, for an emergency meeting to discuss security. This was prompted by the growing fears that if Mugabe had managed to rig the elections - as opposition groups have claimed - antigovernment street protests could spontaneously erupt.

Security sources said Mugabe and the JOC decided to withhold the presidential election results and release the outcomes of the parliamentary, senate and local council polls in small batches to manage the volatile situation and prepare the nation for a Mugabe victory.

The idea is also to contain the situation because Mugabe and his Zanu (PF) have lost the polls by wide margins, sources said.

Sources in the ZEC, which is staffed by pro-government officials, said Mugabe had thwarted the release of the presidential election result to enable his regime to doctor the outcome.

A secret task force of security and electoral personnel was in place before the vote to ensure Mugabe and the divided Zanu (PF) won an absolute majority.

The team, headed by Central Intelligence Organisation operatives tasked to ensure Mugabe "wins power, stays in power, and keeps power", would heavily influence the already flawed electoral process to secure a Mugabe victory, well substantiated information to hand shows.

Yesterday, riot police patrolled the streets of cities while the army was on high alert.

Mugabe has said he would crush any protests by the opposition. "Let them try and they will see," he said in closing his campaign on Friday last week.

Political scientist John Makumbe said Mugabe was likely to rig the polls, creating serious clashes between the security forces and the opposition.

"I know for sure Mugabe will rig. There is too much evidence to support this," he said. "We might end up with a Kenyan-like situation here, but it doesn't have to be like that. However, if Mugabe rigs there will be fierce resistance this time."

The main opposition MDC, led by Morgan Tsvangirai, said Zanu (PF) had lost and was trying to doctor the results.

Official results announced by the ZEC showed Zanu (PF) had 26 seats, Tsvangirai's MDC faction had 25 seats and the MDC camp led by Arthur Mutambara had one seat.


There are 210 seats in the House of Assembly and 60 elective seats in the Senate. Two cabinet ministers, Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa and Interactive Affairs Minister Chen Chimutengwende, lost their seats.

The MDC yesterday released its unofficial results, which showed it had won 96 constituencies out of 128 counted.

"In our view we cannot see the national trend changing. This means the people have spoken, they've spoken against the dictatorship," said MDC secretary-general Tendai Biti.

 

[Mkandara]

Wakuu mimi nina wasiwasi sana na huyu Kibaraka Morgan kwani dhahiri anaonyesha udhaifu wake ktk kutafuta kukata deal na Mugabe. haiwezekani waandishi wa habari kusema kuwa kulikuwepo na mazungumzo ya siri kati ya Mugabe na Morgan, kisha yeye aje kukataa kuwepo kwa kikao chochote kati yake na Mugabe halafu kilichowashangaza wengi na hasa nchi za magharibi ni pale aliposema hawezi kutangaza kuwa yeye ni mshindi hadi hapo matokeo yatakapo tangazwa rasmi!...matokeo gani hayo anayozungumzia ikiwa anaelewa wazi kuwa yeye ni mshinddi iwe wameiba ama hawakuiba!

Binafsi, sikubaliani kabisa na mfumo wa kushare Uongozi ikiwa kuna mshindi mwenye kura zaidi ya asilimia 10 na pia viti vingi bungeni. Mchezo alocheza Raila na Kibaki ni ushahidi tosha na uzembe wa vyama vya Upinzani na mfano mwingine hawa CUF walipokubali Muafaka na CCM, yote haya ni dhahiri kutuonyesha udhoofu wa kiongozi ama chama kwani hata siku moja nchi kama Marekani haziwezi kukubali ku sign deal na DEVIL...kama wanavyosema wao.
Kwa mtaji huo mimi naona chama kama CUF kimevisaliti vyama vingine vyote vya Upinzani walipotaka kuwa na serikali ya mseto na CCM hali wao ndio washindi halali wa uchaguzi wa Zanzibar..
Leo wametupwa nje na CCM, kesho utawakuta wakijipenyeza ktk kuunda upinzani hali walikuwa tayari ku sign mkataba na devil ambaye wao waliwashtumu CCM kwa mauaji na kadhalika..Je, ni makubaliano gani zaidi nje ya wao viongozi kushika baadhi ya nafasi watakazo achiwa na CCM?...Hiyo sharing ya power ingeweza kubadilisha kitu gani kwa maisha ya wananchi wengine ikiwa sera za CCM ndizo zitakazoendelea kufanya kazi chini ya vichwa vya CUF...sababu rais anatoka CCM.
Leo CCM wamekata kwa sababu muafaka utawazibia riziki zao, baadhi viongozi wao watapoteza nafasi zao kisha haiwezekani hata kidogo Muafaka wa Uongozi Zanzibar uwe chini ya vyama viwili wakubaliane kubadilishana nafasi za rais na waziri kiongozi hali huko zanzibar kuna vyama vingine zaidi ya CUF. je, kutakuwepo na muafaka gani ikiwa chama kingine nje ya CUF kitashinda!...
This is all Bull shit, wananchi wa Zanzibar ndio waamuzi wa mustakabari wa nchi yao na kama watahitaji muafaka wowote ule basi ni lazima vyama vyote vihusishwe ili kujengewa sheria... Nje ya hapo ni uhaini wa hali ya juu kwa wananchi wa sehemu zote mbili Bara na visiwani..
Mtanisamehe kuingiza swala la Zanzibar hapa lakini imetokea tu kuwa huyu Morgan anaonekana kuwazidi kete wananchi waliompigia kura na sasa hivi ZANU_PF wanajaribu kumvuta.... na ajabu anavutika.

 

[Nemesis]

ELECTION RESULTS SO FAR
Parliamentary constituencies
MDC-Tsvangirai: 85
Zanu-PF: 85
Breakaway MDC faction: 5
Yet to declare: 35
Presidential results
None so far
Winner needs more than 50% to avoid run-off
Source: ZEC

 

[Njowepo]

ELECTION RESULTS SO FAR
Parliamentary constituencies
MDC-Tsvangirai: 85
Zanu-PF: 85
Breakaway MDC faction: 5
Yet to declare: 35
Presidential results
None so far
Winner needs more than 50% to avoid run-off

 

[Dua]

Zimbabwe election pressure mounts

Police roadblocks have been set up
around Zimbabwe's capital, Harare

Four days after elections in Zimbabwe, pressure is growing on the country's electoral commission to issue results. Amid intensifying global scrutiny, Morgan Tsvangirai said his Movement for Democratic Change would issue its own results if the commission did not. Mr Tsvangirai has said he is convinced he defeated President Robert Mugabe but that he will not claim victory until the official count is known.

He denied rumours of a secret deal allowing Mr Mugabe to step down. The MDC leader said no negotiations would take place until the final result was known. Bright Matonga, Zanu-PF's Deputy Information Minister, also rejected reports of a deal. MDC sources had earlier told the BBC the outline of an agreement had nearly been reached for Mr Mugabe to step down. Parliamentary results released so far show that the MDC has 90 seats, including five for a breakaway faction of the party, against 85 for Zanu-PF, with 35 still to come.

Police and roadblocks

In his first public appearance since the election, Mr Tsvangirai told a news conference on Tuesday evening there was "no way the MDC will enter in any deal before ZEC [Zimbabwe Electoral Commission] has actually announced the result". But he said the MDC would issue its own tally of results if ZEC continues to withhold the official figures. They would be based on the figures which had to be posted by law outside each polling station after counting was completed.

While the atmosphere on Zimbabwe's streets remains peaceful, if tense, there are fears that prolonging the declaration of results could foment similar violent clashes to those which followed Kenya's contested elections in January. Roadblocks have been set up around the capital, Harare, and there has been a marked increase in the presence of paramilitary police on the streets of major cities.

Coup warning

As pressure grew around the world for final results to be declared, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for calm. He urged the "utmost transparency be exercised so that the people of Zimbabwe can have full confidence in the process". The White House said it was clear the people of Zimbabwe had "voted for change". The European Union called on the Zimbabwean president to resign, with its president warning there would be a "coup d'etat" if Mr Mugabe did not step down. "We don't want the situation to develop like in Kenya," said Slovenian Foreign Minister Dimitri Rupel, whose country holds the EU presidency. South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu told the BBC the fact that results had not been announced was very significant.

"Even the dumbest of us would say that results would not have been held back... had it not been the fact that Mr Mugabe has not won," said the Nobel Peace Prize winner. "Had the Zanu PF won these elections we would have heard them crowing a long time ago."

Mugabe not seen

Independent observers say Mr Tsvangirai seems to have taken the most votes in the presidential race. But it is not clear if he won more than the 50% majority needed to avoid a second run-off vote, which would have to be held three weeks after the 29 March election. The Zimbabwe Election Support Network, a coalition of civil society organisations, said its random sample of poll stations indicated Mr Tsvangirai had won just over 49% of the vote and Mr Mugabe 42%. Simba Makoni, a former Mugabe loyalist, trailed at about 8%. Mr Mugabe, 84, has not been seen in public since the election.

He came to power 28 years ago at independence but in recent years Zimbabwe has been plagued by the world's highest inflation, as well as acute food and fuel shortages.

 

[NgomaNzito]

This Mansion is in Harare and belongs to:



The Ex-President of Zimbabwe


Robert Mugabe -

a maniac, whose people are starving while he siphons millions into his own pockets and the world stands by and watches, including closest neighbor South Africa.

 

[Njowepo]

ELECTION RESULTS SO FAR
Parliamentary constituencies
MDC-Tsvangirai: 85
Zanu-PF: 85
Breakaway MDC faction: 5
Yet to declare: 35
Presidential results
None so far
Winner needs more than 50% to avoid run-off
Source: ZEC

 

[Mbogela]

Noel Kututwa, chairman of the Zimbabwe Election Support Network, said his group's polling data gave Tsvangirai 49.4 percent of the vote -- short of the 50 percent plus one vote needed to avoid a runoff election.

Mugabe was second with 41.8 percent. Independent candidate Simba Makoni had 8.2 percent.

The MDC declared victory Sunday, saying results posted at precincts around the country gave Tsvangirai 67 percent of the vote.

One major concern is how Mugabe or the military would react to electoral defeat.

"The key thing now is ... behind the scenes -- how the army is reacting; whether they're going to back up ZANU-PF and say, 'We're going to keep Mugabe at whatever cost,' or whether really now they know the game is up," said British Parliament member Kate Hoey, a frequent visitor to Zimbabwe.

source: http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/04/01/zimbabwe.election/index.html

 

[Nemesis]

ELECTION RESULTS SO FAR
Parliamentary constituencies
MDC-Tsvangirai: 91
Zanu-PF: 93
Breakaway MDC faction: 5
Yet to declare: 21
Presidential results
None so far
Winner needs more than 50% to avoid run-off
Source: ZEC

 

[Kitila Mkumbo]

Mkandara: Mkuu, sasa hapo ukishaanza post na name calling kwa kumuita kiongozi wa watu kibaraka, hapo inakatisha tamaa hata kuendelea kukusoma zaidi. Sasa Mugabe yeye ni kibaraka wa nani?

Anyway, binafsi sioni ubaya wa Morgan kufanya mazungumzo na akina Mugabe. Kumbuka hali waliyo nayo Zimbabwe ni ya utata, ule huwezi kuita ni uchgauzi wa kawaida. Kumbuka jeshi lilishasema halitaweza kumuunga mkono mshindi mwingine yeyote isipokuwa Mugabe. Katika hali kama hii kweli unashangaa Morgan kufanya mazungumzo ya ku-share power au kuwa-assure hawa madikteta kuhusu usalama wao? Hujui kwamba hapo alipo Morgan akifanya mchezo, hawa jamaa hawataaachia madaraka na hali ya Zimbabwe itakuwa ni ngumu zaidi. Katika hili sioni kwa nini mtu ambaye yupo tayari ku-sacrife maslahi yake na ya jamaa zake ya kisiasa aitwe kibaraka!

Kuhusu Morgan, kukana mazungumzo, sijui kwa nini hilo nalo unamlaumu; mimi namuona ni mtu aliyekomaa na anajua namna ya ku-deal na maadui zake. Yupo katika a very delicate position, kwa sababu all Mugabe and cronies need at the moment ni assurance kwamba hatamalizia siku zake zilizobaki katika mahakama ya The Hague. Anyway tunatofautiana namna ya kuona mambo, mimi binafsi namuona Morgan kwamba ni mwanasiasa mwenye resilience ya hali ya juu sana

Nitumie nafasi pia kuwasifu wananchi wa Zimbabwe. Pamoja na matatizo na mateso waliyoyapata wameweza kuwa wavumilivu na hata kuweza kufanya uchaguzi kwa amani kiasi hiki. Hii ni tofauti na wenzetu Kenya, kwa mfano, ambao mauaji yalianza tangu kwenye kampeni hadi baada ya uchaguzi. Nafikiri katika bara letu hili, wananchi wa Zimbabwe wametufundisha makubwa, kwamba mnaweza kukichukia na kukitaa chama tawala tawala bila nyie wananchi kuleteana madhara.

 

[Nsaji Mpoki]

Jamaa katoa profile hapo, najua tunaona furaha kwamba Mugabe anaondoka, lakini kusema kweli hatujui mengi kumhusu jamaa na tusije tukawa romanticized kama enzi ya Chiluba inauguration Wazambia walivyofurahi only to be grossly dissapointed.

Kumbuka walioprint hiyo ni London Times, kumbuka Waingereza hawampendi Mugabe kichizi.Si rahisi kumuwekea Morgan uzushi kama vitu si kweli.

Pundit
Ni kweli ulichosema kuhusu kuchukua tahadhari kwa untested people(Mfano Chiluba),lakini ni ukweli vilevile ushindi wa chiluba uliondoa ukondoo wa kuchagua kwa mazoea.Wazambia wakajenga confidence kwamba kipande cha karatasi(kura) ikitumiwa vizuri inajenga hofu kwa watawala wasiowajibika kwa wananchi wac kuondolewa madarakani bila kushika silaha.
Hili ni fundisho lingine baada ya kenya kwamba africa imechoka kuongozwa na wapiga propoganda.Wazimbabwe wanataka kiongozi atakaeongeza idadi ya mlo mezani sio kupewa forum ya kubishana na waingereza.Hiyo forum kama anaipenda aende malaysia kwa rafiki yake Dr Mahatir akawe anapost makala zake The Guardian kuwachambua waingereza,lakini sio ikulu ya zimbabwe.Pale ikulu abaki mtu ambaye fikra zake zipo kwa ajiri ya kuboresha maisha ya wazimbabwe.
Na yeye akishindwa hawa watu wa Rhodesia(jina la kikoloni likihusisha Malawi,Zambia na Zimbabwe) wana mtindo wa kukataa kuongeza kipindi kingine.Wamefanya hivyo kwa Chiluba na Muluzi.

 

[Masanja]

Mkandara: Mkuu, sasa hapo ukishaanza post na name calling kwa kumuita kiongozi wa watu kibaraka, hapo inakatisha tamaa hata kuendelea kukusoma zaidi. Sasa Mugabe yeye ni kibaraka wa nani?

Anyway, binafsi sioni ubaya wa Morgan kufanya mazungumzo na akina Mugabe. Kumbuka hali waliyo nayo Zimbabwe ni ya utata, ule huwezi kuita ni uchgauzi wa kawaida. Kumbuka jeshi lilishasema halitaweza kumuunga mkono mshindi mwingine yeyote isipokuwa Mugabe. Katika hali kama hii kweli unashangaa Morgan kufanya mazungumzo ya ku-share power au kuwa-assure hawa madikteta kuhusu usalama wao? Hujui kwamba hapo alipo Morgan akifanya mchezo, hawa jamaa hawataaachia madaraka na hali ya Zimbabwe itakuwa ni ngumu zaidi. Katika hili sioni kwa nini mtu ambaye yupo tayari ku-sacrife maslahi yake na ya jamaa zake ya kisiasa aitwe kibaraka!

Kuhusu Morgan, kukana mazungumzo, sijui kwa nini hilo nalo unamlaumu; mimi namuona ni mtu aliyekomaa na anajua namna ya ku-deal na maadui zake. Yupo katika a very delicate position, kwa sababu all Mugabe and cronies need at the moment ni assurance kwamba hatamalizia siku zake zilizobaki katika mahakama ya The Hague. Anyway tunatofautiana namna ya kuona mambo, mimi binafsi namuona Morgan kwamba ni mwanasiasa mwenye resilience ya hali ya juu sana

Nitumie nafasi pia kuwasifu wananchi wa Zimbabwe. Pamoja na matatizo na mateso waliyoyapata wameweza kuwa wavumilivu na hata kuweza kufanya uchaguzi kwa amani kiasi hiki. Hii ni tofauti na wenzetu Kenya, kwa mfano, ambao mauaji yalianza tangu kwenye kampeni hadi baada ya uchaguzi. Nafikiri katika bara letu hili, wananchi wa Zimbabwe wametufundisha makubwa, kwamba mnaweza kukichukia na kukitaa chama tawala tawala bila nyie wananchi kuleteana madhara.

Mkuu Kitila heshima mbele. You couldn`t have said it any better!

Thank you

 

[Idimi]

Wakuu, tunashukuru sana kwa updates hizi.
naona Wazimbabwe sasa wameamua kuondokana na kadhia kwa kuchagua upinzani, itakuwa afadhali. Wasiwasi wa Waingereza na Wamarekani ni kuchelewa kutangawzwa kwa matokeo y uraisi, kitu ambacho kinawatisha kwamba huenda Mugabe na tume yake ya uchaguzi wanapanga kupika matokeo.
Endeleeni kutupatia updates.
Idimi

 

[Jamco_Za]

Mzee bado kangangania madaraka mpaka sasa.

Zimbabwe run-off poll predicted

The first official indication of the result of Saturday's election says that neither President Robert Mugabe nor his main challenger gained 50% of the vote.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says he won the poll but denies discussing Mr Mugabe's departure.

Election officials say the verification of presidential results has begun.

They say that the votes are being verified and collated in the presence of the presidential candidates' chief polling agents in the capital, Harare.

'Sensitive'

Mr Tsvangirai said he would not claim victory until the official count was known and added that no negotiations would take place until such time.

The BBC's Southern Africa correspondent Peter Biles says it is widely believed that President Mugabe would not want to face the humiliation of a run-off, should neither he nor Mr Tsvangirai obtain an absolute majority this time.

Correspondents say Mr Mugabe would be unlikely to win a run-off, as those who voted for independent candidate Simba Makoni would be expected to vote against the president.

Deputy Information Minister Bright Matonga also rejected reports of discussions paving the way for Mr Mugabe to step down.

Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) sources had earlier told the BBC the outline of an agreement had nearly been reached for Mr Mugabe to leave office.

The BBC's Ian Pannell in Zimbabwe, despite a ban on BBC reporters there, says the process is so sensitive that nobody wants to conduct it in public.

In the separate parliamentary race, results released so far show that the MDC has 96 seats, including five for a breakaway faction of the party, against 92 for Zanu-PF, with 22 still to come.

Officials say the final parliamentary results should be released on Wednesday.

Roadblocks

In his first public appearance since the election, Mr Tsvangirai told a news conference on Tuesday evening there was "no way the MDC will enter in any deal before ZEC [Zimbabwe Electoral Commission] has actually announced the result".

But he said the MDC would issue its own tally of results if ZEC continues to withhold the official figures.

They would be based on the figures which had to be posted by law outside each polling station after counting was completed.

Many results have been available since Sunday.

Quoting analysts, The Herald newspaper said on Wednesday that the "pattern of results" indicated by the parliamentary tight race showed a re-run would be necessary.

The Herald is generally seen as reflecting government thinking.

Independent observers had previously said Mr Tsvangirai seemed to have taken the most votes in the presidential race.

More than 50% of the vote is needed to avoid a second run-off vote, which would have to be held three weeks after the 29 March election.

Transparency

While the atmosphere on Zimbabwe's streets remains peaceful, if tense, there are fears that prolonging the declaration of results could lead to violence.

Roadblocks have been set up around the capital, Harare, and there has been a marked increase in the presence of paramilitary police on the streets of major cities.

As pressure grew around the world for final results to be declared, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon called for calm.

He urged the "utmost transparency be exercised so that the people of Zimbabwe can have full confidence in the process".

The White House said it was clear the people of Zimbabwe had "voted for change".

South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu told the BBC the fact that results had not been announced was very significant.

"Even the dumbest of us would say that results would not have been held back... had it not been the fact that Mr Mugabe has not won," said the Nobel Peace Prize winner.

"Had the Zanu-PF won these elections we would have heard them crowing a long time ago."

Earlier the Zimbabwe Election Support Network, a coalition of civil society organisations, said its random sample of poll stations indicated Mr Tsvangirai had won just over 49% of the vote and Mr Mugabe 42%.

Mr Makoni, a former Mugabe loyalist, trailed at about 8%.

Two senior ruling party sources had told Reuters news agency that their projections were similar - indicating a run-off would be needed.

Mr Mugabe, 84, has not been seen in public since the election but Mr Matonga has denied rumours the president had left the country.

He came to power 28 years ago at independence but in recent years Zimbabwe has been plagued by the world's highest inflation, as well as acute food and fuel shortages.

Source: BBC

 

[Nyangumi]

Unajua it come a time wananchi wakiamua hata uibe vipi hutashinda. Mugabe alijua hili na alipanga kila mbinu ikiwa ni pamoja na kutumia vyombo vya dola kutishia Wazimbabwe lakini haijasidia kitu.

Hapa ni somo zuri kwa CCM kujua kuwa mabadiliko ni kitu live na Tanzania is no exception, ni swala la muda tu. Wananchi wa Zimbabwe wameonja joto ya jiwe kiasi cha kushindwa tena kumbeba Mugabe. Tanzania ndo tunakoelekea. Nchi zote zinazotuzunguka Wale viongozi wababe wamatolewa kwa njia ya Kura.

 

[Nyangumi]

Matokeo ya Zimbabwe:
MDC. Tsvangarai 50.3%
ZANU-PF: Mugabe 43.8%