This morning the first official election results are at last emerging – and they show success for the MDC.
from our correspondent in Harare
The first six results of the Zimbabwe House of Assembly election have just been released by the Electoral Commission. The MDC has won four, and Zanu-PF two.
There are 203 more to go, and Zanu-PF has won one unopposed.
This news comes as the people of Zimbabwe are waking to find their country resting on the knife-edge of history.
Unofficial results continue to indicate victory for Morgan Tsvangirai’s faction of the MDC, but signs remain that Mugabe is determined to hang on to power at all costs.
A total of 210 parliamentary seats are due to be declared as well as the
result of the simultaneous presidential election.
The initial results were announced at the commission’s temporary
headquarters nearly 36 hours after polls closed in the election in the
troubled southern African country, which has the world’s highest rate of
inflation.
Last night the chiefs of the armed services, the police and all paramilitary
state security forces were locked in emergency session in the headquarters of the feared Central Intelligence Organisation, Mugabe’s secret police.
Sources say they are trying to cope with the news that the man they have sworn loyalty to has been rejected by the electorate. They are believed to have agreed not to accept a Tsvangirai victory.
Similar problems faced the official observer mission sent to monitor the
election by the Southern African Development Community (SADC), which is historically supportive of Mugabe.
The head of the mission from the 14 nation bloc, Angolan Sports Minister Jose Marcos Barrica, delayed a press conference for two hours while, it is
understood, he consulted with the President’s office on what to say.
A total of 210 parliamentary seats are due to be declared as well as the
result of the simultaneous presidential election.
RESULTS RELEASED
Chegutu West
MDC (Tsv) 6772
ZANU PF 3 713
MDC (Mut) 750
Goromonzi West
MDC (Tsv) 5 931
ZANU (PF) 6 193
Mutoko North
ZANU PF 6 922
MDC (Tsv) 3163
Indep 3023
MDC (Mut) 1065
Mutasa South
MDC Tsv 8 207
ZANU PF 3 409
Indep 412
Mutare Central
MDC (Tsv) 7 284
ZANU PF 2 322
MDC Mut 639
Indep 117
ZPPDP 21
Chipinge Central
ZANU PF 6 377
MDC (Tsv) 5 862
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