After a 24-hour pause, election officials in Zimbabwe Friday resumed announcing senatorial poll results, with the ruling party taking a one-seat lead. A total of 33 senatorial constituency results were announced, with President Robert Mugabe’s ruling ZANU-PF taking 15, its nearest rival 14 and four going to a smaller opposition party. The first 10 constituency results were announced Thursday after which the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) took a long pause which it said had been caused by logistical problems. The latest release brings the total number of senatorial seats declared to 43, with ZANU-PF leading with 20 against 19 for the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). But in overall terms, the opposition is leading with a combined seat total of 23. The elections, held Saturday last week, have been thrown into controversy by the slow release of results. ZEC only finished declaring the results of the lower house of parliament Wednesday, four days after voting closed. The elections body has yet to release results of the key presidential vote, prom pting speculation of possible rigging. Officials said the remainder of senatorial seats would be declared when the resu lts became available, without specifying a timeframe. Panapress.
