ZIMBABWE - ELECTIONS
Tsvangirai says he's 'ready for final round'
Saturday 10 May 2008
Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai put an end to a week-long silence to announce that he would contest the election run-off - on condition that international observers be allowed in. (Report: G.Cragg)
Special Report Elections in ZimbabweSaturday 10 May 2008
By AFP
Zimbabwe's ruling party hopes a runoff between Robert Mugabe and his presidential challenger Morgan Tsvangirai will take place "as soon as possible," the country's justice minister said Saturday.
However, Patrick Chinamasa indicated that opposition conditions placed on the second round election, such as the need for international observers and peacekeepers would not be accepted.
"As for us in ZANU-PF, we are geared for the runoff. We want it as soon as possible and get on with normal business," Chinamasa told AFP.
"The run-off will be held in accordance with the constitution of Zimbabwe and our electoral laws. We will not accept any conditionalities outside our legislation."
Tsvangirai said earlier Saturday he would contest a presidential runoff poll in the violence-wracked country, but called for it to take place on May 23 in accordance with the law.
Results from the first round were delayed by five weeks and no date has been given for the second-round runoff despite the legal requirement for it to take place within 21 days of the first-round results being announced.
First-round results were published on May 2 but electoral officials have hinted that a second round could take up to a year to organise.
Tsvangirai had previously refused to say whether he would take part in a runoff -- even though failure to do so would have handed a victory to Mugabe -- and also claimed outright majority in the first round.
"They indicate that they are turning right and then turn left, they said they won and they will not participate in a runoff now they say they will participate in the runoff," Chinamasa added.
He also implied Tsvangirai was only taking part because he had been ordered to do so by former colonial power Britain.
"They are participating because their master has ordered them to do so. We can almost predict that if Tsvangirai loses he is going to condemn the whole process," he said.
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IN THE FIELD
"Tsvangirai's demands may be linked to M'beki visit," A.Duval Smith in Cape Town, 10/05, 11am 5GMT+2)
