The delay had become a major talking point here, propelling the rumour mill in Harare into overdrive amid intense speculation. Of the six results announced so far, MDC has won in Chegutu West, Mutasa South and Mutare Central while ZANU (PF) has won Chegutu West, Goromonzi West and Chipinge central.

The MDC says it has won the election based on results that have been collated from MDC polling agents stationed at the various constituencies.

But our sources in the ZEC says there has been tinkering with the results, with House of Assembly results leaked to ZimDaily revealing that ZANU (PF) has been given 108 seats, MDC Tsvangirai 94, and MDC Mutambara with eight seats. It was not immediately possible to access the tally for senatorial results.

ZimDaily was told that there was now likely to be a run off after strategy meetings held last night between ZEC officials and military commanders resolved that declaring Mugabe an outright winner with the earlier planned  52 percent would torch protests, hence the new plan. ZEC will now announce results giving Morgan Tsvangirai 48 percent, Robert Mugabe 37 percent and Simba Makoni 15 percent, according to usually reliable sources in the National Command Centre.

The run-off, to be held in 21 days, would give the Mugabe regime ample time to re-strategize new sophisticated ways of stealing the vote in Mugabe’s favour.

According to the results collated by the MDC, however, the party says Tsvangirai won 67 percent of the votes.

MDC secretary general Tendai Biti maintained Tuesday: “Like we have stated, we have won this election.” Information minister Sikhanyiso Ndlovu said the MDC is “lying and speculating” and is bent on a campaign of anarchy if the result doesn’t go in their favour.

ZEC chairman George Chiweshe said in a televised address last night the delay has been caused by verification of the results.

“It’s an absolute necessity that all results be meticulously analysed at this stage,” Chiweshe said. “The commission is aware that these results are eagerly awaited both within and outside our borders. However, it should be born in mind that it is a mammoth national exercise.

It’s a process to ensure the transparency, credibility and efficiency in the counting and collation of votes, starting from polling stations up to the command centre.”

Chiweshe threatened the media for applying undue pressure on the ZEC to announce the results.

“If that kind behaviour continues don’t expect much co-operation from the commission.”

Noel Kututwa, chairman of the independent local observer mission, the Zimbabwe Election Support Network, said: “The delay in announcing these results is fuelling speculation that there could be something going on.”

The SADC observer team head Jose Marcos Barrica of Angola last night whitewashed the election as “peaceful and credible,” eliciting a shocked response from hundreds of journalists and diplomats at the press briefing at the Rainbow Towers.

“We saw that the basic conditions for a free and fair election were there,” Barrica said, speaking through an incoherent interpreter.

SADC’s endorsement was apparently aimed at legitimatising the flawed results that the ZEC plans to announce.

However, the SADC mission is deeply divided over the endorsement of the election, amid reports part of the team has staunchly refused to sign the report which glosses about the freeness of the election, which they have condemned as far from free and fair.

A Pan African Parliament observer mission report has condemned the election as far too shy of the SADC guidelines and says there were ghost polling stations discovered on the outskirts of Harare in the centre of the bush.

Mugabe has rejected charges that he was fixing the election. “We don’t rig elections,” Mugabe said after casting his ballot at primary school in Highfield Saturday. “I cannot sleep with my conscience if I have rigged.”

(Source)